Benedict Cumberbatch Denies Being Khan In Star Trek Into Darkness

[[wysiwyg_imageupload:4682:]]With the release of the Star Trek Into Darkness trailer as well as the screening of the nine minutes of IMAX footage with The Hobbit, the enigma that is Benedict Cumberbatch’s character only continues to get shrouded in mystery.

J.J. Abrams wouldn’t reveal anything about the Cumberbatch’s character, other than he is a cool and frightening villain.

An official image still revealed the villain to be named John Harrison, with Benedict Cumberbatch describing him as a terrorist with extraordinary mental and physical powers, but one that audiences might sympathize with.

As the character of Harrison is associated with Khan through the original Star Trek television episode, “Space Seed,” and in addition to the trailer seemingly borrowing heavily from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Trekkers are thinking that Cumberbatch is, indeed, Khan — maybe more so than ever before.

Access Hollywood caught up with the actor and asked him just that.

Benedict Cumberbatch denied the notion, but made no mention of the name, Khan.

“I play a character called John and not that other name,” Cumberbatch said. “It’s interesting. Speculation is speculation and that’s all fun.”

In addition to Khan, two other characters are thought to be contenders for the villain Cumberbatch plays, with the all-powerful Gary Mitchell, and the insane Federation Captain, Garth of Izar.

Could Benedict be pulling a fast one on us and really be Khan?

Star Trek Into Darkness has a May 17th, 2013 release date in 3D, is directed by J.J. Abrams and stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, Anton Yelchin, John Cho and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Warp on over to the Cosmic Book News Star Trek Movie Hub for more news.

Synopsis:

In Summer 2013, pioneering director J.J. Abrams will deliver an explosive action thriller that takes “Star Trek Into Darkness.”

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis.

With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.