"As exclaimed by Jeremy Kirk: "Yes! We all get to keep saying the name Benedict Cumberbatch!" Indeed we do. Variety, with extra confirmation from Deadline, is reporting that on-the-rise British actor Benedict Cumberbatch has nabbed the villain role in J.J. Abrams' currently untitled Star Trek 2. This kind of throws a wrench in the mix, considering we were all following Edgar Ramirez for Khan, and now Variety says he "landed the role that Edgar Ramirez had auditioned for last month." So who is the villain? Someone new, perhaps? Benedict currently appears on "Sherlock" on BBC right now and he was also in War Horse." - Bluesun 2600 from Bookmarklet

Cumberbatch isn't the only one joining the cast, as Variety also reported that another on-the-rise British actor named Noel Clarke (from "Doctor Who", Heartless, Centurion, Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll) is set for a role as "a family man with a wife and young daughter." But, they say there's no word on whether Benedict will play a hero or villain, despite Variety saying he's taking Ramirez's villain role. Of course, things remain mysterious as this project continues to develop. Variety says the cast for Star Trek 2 also includes Alice Eve and Peter Weller, in addition to all the USS Enterprise regulars. J.J. Abrams is directing from a script by Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci & Damon Lindelof, with Paramount aiming for May 17th, 2013 release date. - Bluesun 2600

Cumberbatch rose to fame in the UK on shows like "Fortysomething", "To the Ends of the Earth", Stuart: A Life Backwards and now "Sherlock". He's also been in a number of smaller roles im films already, including Starter for 10, Amazing Grace, Atonement, The Other Boleyn Girl, Creation, Four Lions (yep!), The Whistleblower and from this year, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Steven Spielberg's War Horse as Major Jamie Stewart. He's also in a film called Wreckers and will apparently be providing facial capture for Smaug the Dragon in Peter Jackson's The Hobbit. It's awesome to see him land a major role like this, quite a boost for his career in Hollywood that's for sure. Let's hope it's all true. We'll see you in space, Mr. Cumberbatch - Bluesun 2600

Star Trek II: The Slithy Toves - Kevin Fox