So yesterday, El Mayimbe of Latino Review posted a scoop that Benicio Del Toro has been cast as Khan, the genetically engineered superhuman with a strength and intelligence to best Kirk and his now up and coming crew. At the end of the article, Mayimbe gives a disclaimer stating that we should "Expect rebuttals and denials."
Well, sure enough, J.J. Abrams has said that it's simply not true.
So who do we believe? Abrams is one to be coy and dodge issues, but he's never really been a liar. Then again, I stand fit to believe that Khan is the most logical conclusion for the villain in the next piece.
The screenwriters have said that they've wanted a movie that echoes the thematic escalation and complexity of The Dark Knight. This may sound simple enough, but to have more complex themes in a story, you need some type of antagonistic force to provide challenge for the heroes, which in this case would be Kirk and his crew.
That's why I think everyone assumes that Khan is the only logical next step. He's a villain that challenges Kirk in a physical and mental capacity. These two are like the two Kings in a chess match, both are important and the true key to their groups success.
Plus, remember that no one HAD to use Khan back in 82', but Harve Bennet (Who like Abrams, was n00b to the franchise) saw Khan as the perfect villain. This isn't like Batman who's been sewn to the hip of the Joker for years. This was a villain plucked out of obscurity that was seen as a great match for Kirk. It paid of obviously, and I see the producers of Trek 2 thinking along the same lines.
Here's where I kind of speculate a bit heavily on how Khan could be introduced. I think the movie ought to start with Khan being actually an ally of Kirk and the Federation. Have him still have his Eugenics War history, but also start fresh without all the Space Seed stuff. Then, maybe have him realize that; he's in an alternate universe. His aggression starts to show, and he becomes adamant on discovering who he is, and where he's from so he (somehow) discovers his whole past with Kirk; hence setting into motion a cat-and-mouse game where they're both trying to stay one step ahead of each other. With this alternate timeline, things can start differently and like the first film, it can also be used to propel the plot forward.
Trek 2 will need to up the stakes, and I realize how fans are stating that it's too early for Khan, but if Abrams and co. don't up the stakes, then what's the bloody point? If Kirk isn't challenged, then what is there to root for? Or are you secretly hoping that the Tribbles will be re-imagined as a planet destroying force that will eat planets like Earth or Vulcan...oh wait.
If this is indeed not true, then I kind of worry that we'll get a good, but not great, film. I do however envision a film with Khan as its antagonist being a far more complicated and interesting endevour then what some of these other fanboys are hoping for.
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