Benedict Cumberbatch does not say he’s Khan in ‘Star Trek 2’
One of the biggest rumors in the science fiction fan circles is that Benedict Cumberbatch (“War Horse”) is playing Khan in the upcoming “Star Trek” sequel. Fans are so enamored with the idea, that they are manufacturing the rumors when the facts are not there.
Benedict Cumberbatch and Zachary Quinto in “Star Trek 2” battle set photo/Paramount Pictures
In the recent interview with ShortList Magazine, posted by TrekWeb on Thursday, are statements that allegedly confirm Cumberbatch as Khan.
“Yep, it’s yet another thing I can’t talk about [laughs]. I’ll tell you this, it’s iconic and it’s exciting. I’m bored of denying that it’s Khan now, because people keep saying it.”
The “Sherlock Holmes” actor cannot shake the question and association to the famous role, made famous by Ricardo Montalban. “Wrath of Khan” is considered by most Trek fans to be the best film and Khan is the best villain.
The role is described by producer Damon Lindelof as ‘iconic’ which has energized fans even more. Cumberbatch tells ShortList that he loved playing the villain.
“Really, really good fun. It’s a great part and it’s really well written. I enjoyed the fights and the stunts, there’s lots of that and it really is proper action movie territory. I went off and did The Hobbit [doing motion-capture and voice work as dragon Smaug and the Necromancer] at the beginning of the job, so I literally came on set, established the look, did a day of filming and then f*cked off to New Zealand for two weeks before coming back. But it’s the stuff of dreams. I know it’s such a well-trodden, clichéd path, ‘Brit actor plays baddie in Hollywood’, but I channelled all of that and just really enjoyed it.”
The “Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” is building an incredible Sci-Fi resume with the role as Smaug and Necromancer in Peter Jackson’s “Hobbit” series. All three “Hobbit” films are in post-production and due for release beginning later this year, with each sequel coming out the year after.
Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, John Cho and Bruce Greenwood all return to the U.S.S. Enterprise, reprising their respective Federation characters. Peter Weller, Eve and Cumberbatch join the cast for the second film.
“Trek 2” officially comes to theaters on May 17, 2013.
