Although filming has wrapped on J.J. Abrams ‘Untitled Star Trek Sequel‘, we know very little about the plot for the follow-up to the acclaimed 2009 series reboot, and despite the fact we’ve seen spy pictures featuring Benedict Cumberbatch’s villain squaring off against Zachary Quinto’s Spock, the identity of the Sherlock star’s character has remained a mystery… until now. Well possibly, if Karl Urban is to be believed.
Don’t want to know any more? Then I suggest you heed this potential spoiler warning and turn away now…
Speaking to SFX magazine during a promotional junket for the upcoming British comic book adaptation Dredd, Urban got onto the subject of Benedict Cumberbatch and seemed to let slip his character’s identity, stating that: “He’s awesome, he’s a great addition [to the Star Trek cast] and I think his Gary Mitchell is going to be exemplary.”
For those unfamiliar with TOS lore, Gary Mitchell was an old friend of Kirk’s and a Starfleet officer who went bad after developing godlike powers, and he was first rumoured as the Abrams’ choice of villain for the sequel back in December last year. There is of course the chance that this could simply be misdirection on Urban’s part, but assuming Cumberbatch is portraying a familiar Star Trek bad guy, then Gary Mitchell seems to be a good fit based on what we’ve seen of him so far (certainly moreso than the heavily-rumoured Khan Noonien Singh).
Along with Cumberbatch, Quinto and Urban, the upcoming Star Trek sequel sees Chris Pine, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Simon Pegg and Bruce Greenwood all returning for a second outing, along with series newcomers Alice Eve (The Raven), Peter Weller (RoboCop), Noel Clarke (Doctor Who), Nazneen Contractor (24), Joseph Gatt (Thor) and Tom Archdeacon (J. Edgar). The film is currently is set for release on May 17th, 2013.
Originally published July 9, 2012. Updated December 6, 2019.
