Producers of Star Trek 2 have added a new actor in a lead role but will be hero or villain?

  Deadline is reporting that producers have hired Benedict Cumberbatch. The British actor is currently on the big screen in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy and War Horse. He will playing the dragon Smaug (via motion capture) and the voice of the Necromancer in The Hobbit. He was Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock on BBC.

  Benicio Del Toro turned down the villain role. Edgar Ramirez and Jordi Molla was under consideration. Del Toro’s casting immediately generated rumors he would be playing Khan Noonien Singh. I was hoping for a return of the Klingons in the sequel.

  I agree with Collider that this casting is a curveball – especially if it is for the main villain role. When I see Cumberbatch – I think Romulan or Andorian.