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Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:46 pm
by colmquinn
He already appeared to be on the fast-track to the A-list after catching the eyes of Steven Spielberg and Peter Jackson. Now Benedict Cumberbatch, star of the BBC's Sherlock Holmes TV series, may have landed his most high-profile role so far: the villain in the latest Star Trek movie.


Both Variety and the Hollywood Reporter say Cumberbatch is stepping into shoes recently vacated by Benicio Del Toro, who was initially set to square off against Captain James T Kirk et al in JJ Abrams' forthcoming followup to his own blockbusting 2009 series reboot. Variety says talks with Del Toro broke down about a month ago, and Cumberbatch subsequently blew Abrams and his team way with an incendiary audition.


The 35-year-old British actor is also due to voice Smaug the dragon and the Necromancer in Jackson's two-part Hobbit project. He is currently appearing as Major Stewart in Spielberg's Oscars-tipped War Horse, as well as playing an MI6 operative in Tomas Alfredson's recent adaptation of Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.


His role for Abrams may have particular resonance because the original 1982 Star Trek II is known for Ricardo Montalban's searing turn as villain Khan and was widely considered the best film of the series until Abrams entered the fray. The film-maker is not believed to be reviving Khan but is expected to honour his legacy by introducing an equally prominent bad guy.


Cumberbatch will head up what already looks likely to be a sizable British contingent for Star Trek II. Simon Pegg is due to return as Scottie, while Alice Eve and Noel Clarke are also joining the cast. The latter will reportedly play a family man, with a wife and young daughter, who becomes involved in Kirk and Spock's latest adventure.


Star Trek II sees Abrams returning as director, with a screenplay by himself, Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The latter pair also worked on the first film. Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto will also be back as Kirk and Spock. Cumberbatch may be packing his bags already as, according to trekmovie.com, the sequel starts shooting in a couple of weeks for a 2013 release in 3D.
Source

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 6:04 pm
by Graham Kennedy
Oooo, interesting. I've been watching the new Sherlock series and he's extremely good in that.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:03 pm
by Mikey
Too bad Peter Cushing's dead. That's my take.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 6:55 pm
by colmquinn
Mikey wrote:Too bad Peter Cushing's dead. That's my take.

What?

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:02 pm
by Mikey
colmquinn wrote:
Mikey wrote:Too bad Peter Cushing's dead. That's my take.

What?
You didn't know that? He died in 1994.

If you mean "What?" as in, "Who the hell are you talking about," then Peter Cushing was a hugely underrated actor who cut his teeth in myriad Hammer horror films, the culmination of which (IMHO) was The Mummy of 1959 opposite Christopher Lee. Oh, he also played Grand Moff Tarkin in a little-known sci-fi film called Star Wars or something. His ability to depict passionate emotion bubbling under a veneer of restraint would have made for a phenomenal 'Trek villain.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:05 pm
by colmquinn
I knew he died I was just wondering why he was brought up in new Trek Villain bit. Could've been clearer with my question I guess.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:07 pm
by Mikey
colmquinn wrote:I knew he died I was just wondering why he was brought up in new Trek Villain bit. Could've been clearer with my question I guess.
Gotcha. Like I said, I just think he would have made a great 'Trek villain... or SW villain, if Tarkin had been explored further.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:10 pm
by Captain Seafort
I thought you were responding to Graham's comment about Cumberbatch's performance as Holmes.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:52 pm
by Mikey
Oh, sorry. I should have been more explicit. Though, now that you mention it, I suspect Cushing would have made a pretty good Holmes, as well.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 7:55 pm
by Captain Seafort
Mikey wrote:Oh, sorry. I should have been more explicit. Though, now that you mention it, I suspect Cushing would have made a pretty good Holmes, as well.
He did.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:03 pm
by Mikey
Captain Seafort wrote:
Mikey wrote:Oh, sorry. I should have been more explicit. Though, now that you mention it, I suspect Cushing would have made a pretty good Holmes, as well.
He did.
So he did. I can't believe I forgot, especially considering that he did a decent turn following an act like Rathbone.

Have you ever had a chance to see him as the Doctor? I haven't seen the films, but I'd love to.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:09 pm
by Captain Seafort
Mikey wrote:Have you ever had a chance to see him as the Doctor? I haven't seen the films, but I'd love to.
I've seen bits of them, a long time ago. I don't think you can consider those films as Cushing's interpretation of the character given that a) they were made before the concept of regeneration, and therefore of different interpretations, came around and b) Cushing's character was a human inventor, not a Time Lord (indeed, the films were made before anything was revealed of the Doctor's background).

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 8:29 pm
by Mikey
Well, that's more about them than I knew.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 9:41 pm
by Griffin
I like the Cushing films, but it's been a while since I saw them so I can't really comment.

As for the main topic: I like Cumberbatch, and this SHOULD mean the villain won't be Khan.

Re: Benedict Cumberbatch for New Trek film

Posted: Fri Jan 06, 2012 10:07 pm
by Captain Seafort
Mikey wrote:Oh, he also played Grand Moff Tarkin in a little-known sci-fi film called Star Wars or something.
Speaking of this, I remember seeing a comment once elsewhere that one of the reason the OT was better than the PT was that the former didn't have any big-name actors. Unfortunately I wasn't signed up to it, so I couldn't point out that if any of the SW films relied on minor unknown actors it was The Phatom Menace.