Star Trek Into Darkness: 5 Pros & Cons Of Benedict Cumberbatch As Khan
4. Space Seed And ST2:TWOK In Into Darkness
There were rumors early on that J.J. Abrams second Trek flick would deal with the popular villain Khan, but the producers and Paramount did a great job at hiding that fact. Cumberbatch himself denied the rumors on multiple occasions. His best denial (and most amusing) was made on The Late Show with David Letterman just as the movie opened in theaters.
The screenwriters did a commendable job incorporating the storyline from the original series episode Space Seed into Star Trek Into Darkness. The major plot points are all there: the discovery of an old ship with people in cryogenic freeze, their genetically modified leader taken out of freeze first, and a burning desire on the part of Khan to rule in the 23rd century as he had on Earth of the past. While the events from Space Seed are incorporated into the back story, the major plot elements of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan are present in Into Darkness, including Khans treachery, a sacrificial effort to save the Enterprise, and the introduction of Carol Marcus. Cumberbatch fills the bill here. Like Ricardo Montalban before him, Cumberbatch is no slouch when it comes to chewing up the scenery. He's a fine actor delivering a fine performance.