With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret?

Mutara Nebula 1967 · December 7 2012, 10:39 PM

I'm trying to figure out why this is such a closely guarded secret as to whom Cumberbatch and Eva are playing.

If they just came out with it then that might excite fans even more.

I'm starting to feel that we will know more about the New Star Wars movie than we will about this one before it opens.

JarodRussell · December 7 2012, 10:40 PM

His identity won't be revealed in the film either.

The end credits list him only as "Villain".

Therin of Andor · December 7 2012, 10:46 PM

Mutara Nebula 1967 wrote:

If they just came out with it then that might excite fans even more.

How would you judge that? Since we are either told now, or we are not - and yet the more they don't say, it seems the more discussion that is generated. Free publicity = priceless.

Franklin · December 7 2012, 10:48 PM

JarodRussell wrote:

His identity won't be revealed in the film either.

The end credits list him only as "Villain".

If Abrams had done TWOK, it would've been "Star Trek II: The Wrath of --".

Honestly, the secrecy is weird, but I guess that's J.J.' way.

Still, how can knowledge of who the villain is spoil the movie? Is who he is that big of a reveal?

There can be diminishing returns on carrying the secret too far, too. Frankly, if it comes out it's Khan or Mitchell, I think the first reaction of most folks (even those positive towards the movie) is going to be, "You waited this long to tell us that?"

Heck, I'll be one of the first in line to see it around here even if the Cumberbatch is playing Harry Mudd.

SalvorHardin · December 7 2012, 10:51 PM

Chances are that we will know very soon when the 9 minutes and the real trailer are out.

Gojira · December 7 2012, 10:51 PM

JJ likes being an international man of mystery. That really is the only reason. It keeps the fans like myself wondering and I think it is all part of his marketing scheme.

JarodRussell · December 7 2012, 10:57 PM

If they are inspired by The Dark Knight, it wouldn't even be that far fetched that the villain in this film has no background and no identity.

Therin of Andor · December 7 2012, 10:57 PM

Franklin wrote:

the secrecy is weird, but I guess that's J.J.' way.

Remember, as revealed in the May 2009 issue of "Wired" that he guest edited as part of the publicitity of ST (2009)...

wired by Therin of Andor, on Flickr

... this is the man who, as a kid, ordered the iconic "Mystery Box" from a mail order coupon in a comic and chose to never open it!

Caesar753 · December 7 2012, 11:06 PM

Why would they announce the villain now? The fan speculation has been flooding the internet for months (years?) and the vagueness of the trailer has only heightened it. The tidbits of information fed to us by JJ, Orci, and Lindelof are meant to keep us guessing and thus keep us talking about the new movie. JJ et al. know exactly what they're doing from a marketing perspective.

THE_FETT · December 7 2012, 11:11 PM

Mutara Nebula 1967 wrote:

I'm trying to figure out why this is such a closely guarded secret as to whom Cumberbatch and Eva are playing.

If they just came out with it then that might excite fans even more.

I'm starting to feel that we will know more about the New Star Wars movie than we will about this one before it opens.

It generates more talk. More word of mouth = more hype = more $$$. Think about it: if we knew who it was, there would be talk of one name, but since we don't know, now there's talk of more than one name as people trying to "solve the riddle"

If we knew it was, say, Garth, then the forums would be "Garth" but when we don't know, then the forums are "Garth! Khan! Mitchell! Charlie X! Unknown!" see how much more there is in the second one?

I hate Abrams.

RoJoHen · December 7 2012, 11:38 PM

I love not knowing. Speculation is so much more fun than knowing. The trailer gave us just the right amount of information to get our crazy fan brains spinning. It's not called a teaser for nothing.

Franklin · December 7 2012, 11:44 PM

Spoiler alert! Would the movie be ruined for any of you if you knew beforehand that at the end of "Lincoln" --

Me? I HATE knowing nothing.

RoJoHen · December 7 2012, 11:46 PM

Franklin wrote:

Spoiler alert! Would the movie be ruined for any of you if you knew beforehand that at the end of "Lincoln" --

If I somehow managed to go my entire life not knowing that fact, then I deserve to have the movie ruined.

SalvorHardin · December 7 2012, 11:50 PM

Franklin wrote:

Spoiler alert! Would the movie be ruined for any of you if you knew beforehand that at the end of "Lincoln" --

Me? I HATE knowing nothing.

Assuming I somehow didn't know about it...ruined, no. Entertainment & shock value definitely diminished.

KennyB · December 7 2012, 11:52 PM

This amuses me every day. Bitch for months that you have NOTHING.......then you get poster and a teaser and days away from proper trailer and STILL bitching about it all. This is EXACTLY what the PR machine wants.........people talking, articles being written. This is GOOD! It's like Christmas time!!! Just settle down kids cause Santa won't come till you calm down and go to bed!

December 7 2012, 10:39 PM	#1
Mutara Nebula 1967 Captain Location: World's coolest cave car!	With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? I'm trying to figure out why this is such a closely guarded secret as to whom Cumberbatch and Eva are playing. If they just came out with it then that might excite fans even more. I'm starting to feel that we will know more about the New Star Wars movie than we will about this one before it opens. __________________ Sawyer on LOST-The Long Con "Looks like the good folks of Island Town are roundin' up a possy and I bet Jack leads the charge in a big white hat."

December 7 2012, 10:40 PM	#2
JarodRussell Vice Admiral	Re: With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? His identity won't be revealed in the film either. The end credits list him only as "Villain". __________________ lol l /\

December 7 2012, 10:51 PM	#5
SalvorHardin Rear Admiral Location: Star's End	Re: With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? Chances are that we will know very soon when the 9 minutes and the real trailer are out. __________________ www.youtube.com/user/SalvorSeldon

December 7 2012, 10:51 PM	#6
Gojira Commodore Location: Stompin' on Tokyo	Re: With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? JJ likes being an international man of mystery. That really is the only reason. It keeps the fans like myself wondering and I think it is all part of his marketing scheme. __________________ My Science Fiction-Fantasy movie review Blog: http://foleyfunfilmfacts.wordpress.com/

December 7 2012, 10:57 PM	#7
JarodRussell Vice Admiral	Re: With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? If they are inspired by The Dark Knight, it wouldn't even be that far fetched that the villain in this film has no background and no identity. __________________ lol l /\

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December 7 2012, 11:06 PM	#9
Caesar753 Lieutenant Commander Location: Milwaukee, WI	Re: With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? Why would they announce the villain now? The fan speculation has been flooding the internet for months (years?) and the vagueness of the trailer has only heightened it. The tidbits of information fed to us by JJ, Orci, and Lindelof are meant to keep us guessing and thus keep us talking about the new movie. JJ et al. know exactly what they're doing from a marketing perspective.

December 7 2012, 11:38 PM	#11
RoJoHen Awesome Location: Wherever life takes me	Re: With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? I love not knowing. Speculation is so much more fun than knowing. The trailer gave us just the right amount of information to get our crazy fan brains spinning. It's not called a teaser for nothing. __________________ I am the Quintessential Admiral. Get ready to grow your EQUINOX BEARD!

December 7 2012, 11:44 PM	#12
Franklin Rear Admiral Location: In the bleachers	Re: With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? Spoiler alert! Would the movie be ruined for any of you if you knew beforehand that at the end of "Lincoln" -- Lincoln is assassinated. Me? I HATE knowing nothing. __________________ Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect. -- Mark Twain

December 7 2012, 11:52 PM	#15
KennyB Commodore Location: 2nd Star to the right........	Re: With the trailer out why are they keeping the villains ID secret? This amuses me every day. Bitch for months that you have NOTHING.......then you get poster and a teaser and days away from proper trailer and STILL bitching about it all. This is EXACTLY what the PR machine wants.........people talking, articles being written. This is GOOD! It's like Christmas time!!! Just settle down kids cause Santa won't come till you calm down and go to bed! __________________