Star Trek Into Darkness - Images, Videos, Discussion, etc

[086gf]

I don't recall them saying that.  In fact, I seem to remember them saying that the villain would be familiar to Trek fans.

I will say this though.  If the Klingons are involved, then this will obviously be different than a "Space Seed" rehash.

Bryan Burk himself said so and Orci just said that it is not a remake/rehash.

Orci: Star Trek Sequel Not A Remake
 
Last week TrekMovie.com joined the growing chorus of other websites (AICN, Latino Review, Vulture, FirstShowing, and others) reporting sources saying Benedict Cumberbatch will be playing Khan. Some have taken these reports to say that if true, then the Star Trek sequel will be just like the original Star Trek episode "Space Seed," where Kirk and crew first encounter the genetic superman from the past, or possibly even a rehash of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, when Khan seeks revenge for marooning him on a doomed planet.

Today in response to these concerns, Star Trek co-writer/producer posted the following comment here at TrekMovie:

boborci: "No remakes. No rehashes."

And to add some more context to recent debates, I also think it helps to bring back a comment from Orci?s fellow producer Bryan Burk who spoke about the villain in the film and their decision (in general terms).

Bryan Burk (speaking to MTV in December): "There are amazing villains throughout the Star Trek universe, as well as new villains as we did in the last film. There are a lot of directions we can go in the film and in this particular case we chose to do something that would be original and unique and different and again on paper I think we made the right choice."

So maybe TrekMovie and the other sites are all wrong and Khan is not in the film (and I admit this is entirely possible). I have also noted that reports of Khan are still officially rumors from Paramount?s point of view.

However, for the purpose of discussion, lets say the Khan reports are true, then how does that fit with what Orci and Burk are saying? It seems to me that the team are sending the message they have their own story (even if it has known characters). And just look at their often used example of Heath Ledger and the Joker for The Dark Knight. While using a well known character, director Christopher Nolan found a way to tell a unique story, which turned into a monster hit with great reviews.
 
My thoughts?
 
If you have seen me opine about this at cons over the last few years (it always comes up), I have consistently said that using a classic character does not mean that you are using the same story. If you just use your imagination, you can probably dream up a number of different ways an exiled genetically-enhanced leader from the Eugenics Wars can make headlines in JJ Abrams new Star Trek universe, and none of them have to look like ?Space Seed.?
 
In fact, I have always found the debate kind of odd actually. With every new superhero movie there seems to be no question that they will use a classic villain. The new Superman movie has Zod, the next Batman movie has Bane (and Catwoman), the new Spider-man has The Lizard, and the list goes on. It seems to be a given that they will use classic villains, and yet with Star Trek this seems to be controversial for some. The irony of course is that the only Star Trek film that re-used a character for the villain was Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, which is still considered by most (including myself) to be the best film of the franchise.

In a way I think JJ Abrams obsession with secrecy just exacerbates the controversy. As noted with these other films, announcements on who the villains are usually comes with casting news, months before production. These other filmmakers don?t see how revealing a character is a big deal and know that it really doesn?t tell you anything about the story.

I agree, no one wants to see a remake or a rehash. But this team have always said they don?t want to be a cover band, they want to tell their own stories in the Star Trek universe (and they even made a new Star Trek universe for added flexibility). So for now, I take them at their word. They have a new story to tell and in the end that is all that matters. Whether it includes a known villain character or not, is really secondary.

http://trekmovie.com/2012/05/10/orci-star-trek-sequel-is-not-remake/

[Shadowknight1]

In any event, I would like it if JJ would throw us a freaking bone here.

[086gf]

Well, the second GI Joe is the next Paramount movie to release so there might be a short teaser shown with it.

[Shadowknight1]

Well, Peter Weller dropped a hint, probably on accident, about his character in the film.  He isn't an alien and he has his own ship.  Boy, that sure narrows down the possibilities.

[Darkthunder]

Well, Peter Weller dropped a hint, probably on accident, about his character in the film.  He isn't an alien and he has his own ship.  Boy, that sure narrows down the possibilities.

My first thought... Harcourt "Harry" Mudd (http://en.memory-alpha.org/wiki/Harcourt_Mudd). Remains to be seen.

[majormagna]

Not necessarily, he could be another Starfleet Captain.

Isn't he too thin to play Mudd?

[Shadowknight1]

Or he could be a civilian.  Starfleet doesn't have a monopoly on starships you know.

[FarShot]

I doubt he's Mudd.  The banter between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy really should be the only comedic element needed in a good TOS character movie.  The presence of Mudd might be something of a Jar Jar in the franchise.  Keenser is already pushing the envelope a bit.

[Shadowknight1]

I doubt he's Mudd.  The banter between Kirk, Spock, and McCoy really should be the only comedic element needed in a good TOS character movie.  The presence of Mudd might be something of a Jar Jar in the franchise.  Keenser is already pushing the envelope a bit.

Keenser mostly keeps his mouth shut and doesn't dance around like a freakin lunatic.

[FarShot]

And so far the only things he has going for him.

[Shadowknight1]

You know, I don't understand why people consider him annoying...

[Darkthunder]

You know, I don't understand why people consider him annoying...

If nothing else, he was the cause of the rise of the Emperor

[Shadowknight1]

Keenser, not Jar Jar.

[Darkthunder]

Oh... Well, I too thought the character was kinda useless, but certainly not to the "annoying" level of Jar Jar

[FarShot]

I didn't really think of him as annoying.  I'm just judging him as a film critic.  He was useless, he added a small comedic element that in the end is useless, and he has the potential of being an annoying sidekick.  I do not want to see him in XII, just like I did not want to see Jar Jar in II and III.  Thank god George minimized his role in both movies.

[sovereign001]

I don't give a damn if he is khan or not, i just want it to be a good movie. I liked the first one, so keep it coming!

[086gf]

Alice Eves character is a member of starfleet(same new flight jumpsuit as Spock and co.) and Peter Weller says he has his own ship.

[Darkthunder]

Alice Eves character is a member of starfleet(same new flight jumpsuit as Spock and co.) and Peter Weller says he has his own ship.

I don't think the clothing can be used to determine if a character is, or isn't in Starfleet. Especially if she's in some kind of flightsuit, it could just as easily be "on loan" for the mission at hand. Still thou, the secrecy surrounding Trek XII is kinda annoying at this point.

[Shadowknight1]

I didn't really think of him as annoying.  I'm just judging him as a film critic.  He was useless, he added a small comedic element that in the end is useless, and he has the potential of being an annoying sidekick.  I do not want to see him in XII, just like I did not want to see Jar Jar in II and III.  Thank god George minimized his role in both movies.

Comedic element.  Okay.  But the potential of being an annoying sidekick?  You can't get that from a character with ONE line.  It's not like Jar Jar who was so clumsy, goofy, and idiotic.  The only things Keenser did were lead Spock and Kirk to Scotty, admit that he was as hungry as Scotty, and sit on spots that are high in altitude.  Oh, and miss his only friend on that lonely planet.  He didn't run around like an idiot and nearly get his companions shot.

And Darkthunder, I agree on the secrecy thing.  Filming is done, throw us a bone.  We should be given the name and a brief synopsis by now.

[Tuskin38]

There will probably be something at Comic-Con in July.