Speculation. Denials. More speculation. More denials. More speculation. An admission? Did Karl Urban really just outright tell us who Benedict Cumberbatch is playing in Star Trek 2?
On the junket for Dredd, Urban may have let slip one of the most well-kept secrets in sci-fi right now, the identity of the villain in J.J. Abrams upcoming Star Trek sequel. While talking to SFX, the actor was asked about working with Cumberbatch. His response?
“He’s awesome, he’s a great addition, and I think his Gary Mitchell is going to be exemplary.”
Oh, well, I guess that answers that question. Or does it?
Just two weeks ago Star Trek 2 screenwriter Roberto Orci gave JoBlo.com a list of five characters “who will 100% not be in the sequel.” On that list, Gary Mitchell.* Clearly, one of these men is lying. I’d say it’s most likely Urban.
Mitchell’s already appeared in the in-continuity/canon tie-in comics, and while the movies are completely free to ignore the books and override the canon, he got the green-light because Abrams had shot him down for the films. It’s likely that Urban was told to “slip” Cumberbatch’s “role” in order to get fans to stop trying to guess the villain (if we know, we’re not going to keep guessing). Both Abrams and Orci have been involved in this kind of disinformation before, I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re doing it again.
Is Cumberbatch playing Gary Mitchell, probably not. Though it’d be cool, and he’d be great in the role.
* – The others being Charlie X, Ruk, Janice Rand, and The Borg.
