Warning – potentially huge Star Trek Into Darkness spoiler to follow…
The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly is set to deliver an inside look into J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness, and in addition to a batch of new images from the hotly-anticipated sci-fi sequel, EW’s website may have just dropped a huge reveal about the true identity of Benedict Cumberbatch’s mystery villain; if you want to know, read on past the new images…
Still here? Okay then… Well, according to EW’s back issue store, Benedict Cumberbatch’s bad guy ‘John Harrison’ is really… wait for it… Khhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaannnnnn!
Yes, according to the description for this week’s EW cover, Cumberbatch will be portraying none other than the 20th century warlord Khan Noonien Singh, who was of course portrayed by Ricardo Montalban in the Star Trek: TOS episode ‘Space Seed’ and 1982’s Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Naturally, there is the possibility that EW has made a mistake (and either way, I imagine that’s the line that Paramount Pictures will take), but of all the rumours about the identity of the film’s antagonist, Khan’s name has popped up most frequently, and considering the hints in the theatrical trailer, it shouldn’t come as much surprise if this does turn out to be the case. So, does this mean the mystery has finally been solved, and if so, what the hell is Khan doing in a Starfleet uniform?
Star Trek Into Darkness sees Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin all returning to crew the USS Enterprise, while Bruce Greenwood reprises his role as Christopher Pike and Alice Eve (Men in Black 3) joins the cast as Dr. Carol Marcus. Other franchise newcomers include Peter Weller (RoboCop), Nazneen Contractor (24), Noel Clarke (Doctor Who) and Nolan North (Young Justice).
Star Trek Into Darkness is set for release on May 17th, 2013.
Originally published February 7, 2013. Updated November 6, 2019.
