Star Trek Into Darkness: 5 Pros & Cons Of Benedict Cumberbatch As Khan

1. Cumberbatch Adds The Right Chemistry To The Cast

The biggest challenge for J.J. Abrams in rebooting the Star Trek movie franchise was the casting. The characters created by Gene Roddenberry in the 1960s are now part of our popular culture. Abrams had once chance to get it right, and he succeeding in bringing together a crew of up-and-coming actors who were able to espouse the characteristics Roddenberry instilled in the Star Trek crew while at the same time allowing each actor's own take on his or her character. While the new Star Trek cast is familiar to audiences, there is a freshness to the characters that lends them credibility to a new audience.

Benedict Cumberbatch manages to do the same. He fills the shoes of a timeless villain with respect to the character as originally created while adding his own twist to Khan. Cumberbatch is a great fit here. His youth, screen presence and acting chops serve to benefit the film as he interacts with the rest of the cast. Seeing Khan and Kirk, in the last act, working together toward what appears to be a mutually shared end-game is demonstrative of chemistry important to the dramatic success of a motion picture.