Pegg Denies Cumberbatch Role Rumors

[Captaindemotion]

Pegg has always seemed like a straight-up guy, one of the fans, who is a proud self-described geek. I find it hard to believe that he'd out-and-out lie about the movie.

He might act coy or be ambivalent or refuse to comment. But turn round and deliberately mislead fans about the villain of the role, knowing how hotly-debated it is and how interested they are? I just don't see it. I think he genuinely values his rapport with fans and knows what it's like to be one.

I think he'd have been pissed off if the same thing had happened to him when he was a fan and I think he knows fans would be less likely to believe him when, for example, he tells them how good his next movie is.

I remember once reading an interview with Winona Ryder where she was laughing about how good her acting was when she convinced people in interviews that Bram Stokr's Dracula was a good movie and that she was pleased with it; the gist of this interview, a few years later was 'Wow, I can't believe you all fell for this.' I just don't think Pegg is the type to pull this sort of stunt.

 

[M'Sharak]

...

Glad this thread got started! I posted about it 6 hours ago at the end of another thread and nobody saw for ages...

I saw it. And then right afterward, I saw that this one had been posted by TrekToday.

I hope Pegg's right about this. I have no idea who this Cumberbatch fellow is...

Okay, now pull the other one.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ No, I'm serious. I looked up the name, but I have never seen any of the onscreen appearances he's done.

 

[Franklin]

I've resisted posting this because I wish to God I could find the reference, first. Lord knows I've spent some free time (too much for what it is) trying to find the reference. I'm certain I read something quite a while back (definitely before shooting, maybe while the script was being finished) where it was said there wasn't a villain in the conventional sense. That a planet, or something else, may be driving the conflict and the problems it causes are what is really endangering our heroes. This thought crossed my mind again with all the jungle planet talk.

Now, if true, it could be they're mincing words on Cumberbatch as a villain (as Khan or not). They can deny he is one, although he is (or during the movie becomes) the human(oid) antagonist in the story. After all, an antagonist doesn't have to be villainous. There may not be anything personal between him and Kirk. Whatever happens between them is driven by the larger conflict they are both wrapped up in to different ends.

 

[M'Sharak]

I've resisted posting this because I wish to God I could find the reference, first. Lord knows I've spent some free time (too much for what it is) trying to find the reference. I'm certain I read something quite a while back (definitely before shooting, maybe while the script was being finished) where it was said there wasn't a villain in the conventional sense. That a planet, or something else, may be driving the conflict and the problems it causes are what is really endangering our heroes. This thought crossed my mind again with all the jungle planet talk.

This may not be exactly the piece you had in mind, but I think it was hinting at the same idea:

http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-trek/17290/who-will-be-the-villain-in-the-star-trek-sequel

 

[Wynterhawk]

I feel strangely pleased about this development to the point where I might have fist bumped myself.

 

[ChristopherPike]

Based on nothing really... It's probably because Cumberbatch hasn't been cast in the role, all those earlier, quite high profile latino actors were being sounded out for. The part everybody suspected to be Khan, has gone to a virtual unknown by comparison. His name was probably announced and nobody even batted an eyelid. So it was probably too cameo a role for an A-lister to agree to, and commit to the promise of larger in a third film, if the plot were to even be followed up.

 

[monkeyd]

^ No, I'm serious. I looked up the name, but I have never seen any of the onscreen appearances he's done.

If you're at all interested, Sherlock is on Netflix (the first three episodes, the next three are still online at pbs I think) and is honestly one of the best shows I have ever seen on TV. And Cumberbatch, in that and many other things, is one of the best actors I've ever seen period. I think you'll be reassured seeing almost anything he's done that he will do a great job in this movie,

 

[sojourner]

It's always been my personal theory that Cumberbatch is playing Garth.

 

[Franklin]

I've resisted posting this because I wish to God I could find the reference, first. Lord knows I've spent some free time (too much for what it is) trying to find the reference. I'm certain I read something quite a while back (definitely before shooting, maybe while the script was being finished) where it was said there wasn't a villain in the conventional sense. That a planet, or something else, may be driving the conflict and the problems it causes are what is really endangering our heroes. This thought crossed my mind again with all the jungle planet talk.

This may not be exactly the piece you had in mind, but I think it was hinting at the same idea:

http://www.denofgeek.com/movies/star-trek/17290/who-will-be-the-villain-in-the-star-trek-sequel

Thanks, M'Sharak. That wasn't the site, but it was the gist of what I read. It was Orci who'd said it. That site probably used the same interview. Anyway, at least now I know I'm not losing it (yet).

Now, can you help me find my slippers?

 

[Devon]

They also denied Cumberbatch was the Villain.

Whom? That was reported from the get go and even Cumberbatch himself has said that he is portraying the villain.

 

[Set Harth]

(the sites reporting it like trekmovie.com are pretty reliable)

It depends on your definition of reliable.

If they're saying it's Khan, and it isn't, then theoretically that would make them unreliable.

But I'm sure no matter what happens they'll still be considered reliable next time around.

I mean, right after Nimoy said "we're talking", they blurted out that he was in the film, and there's absolutely nothing suspicious about that.

 

[monkeyd]

They also denied Cumberbatch was the Villain.

Whom? That was reported from the get go and even Cumberbatch himself has said that he is portraying the villain.

At the very beginning I think there was a quote from JJ saying he wasn't necessarily the villain, and Cumberbatch in an interview said he might or might not be the villain. But everyone really knew and since then, you are right, he's been straightforward in interviews that he is playing the "not-so-good-guy".

 

[SiddFinch1]

It's always been my personal theory that Cumberbatch is playingi. A Garth.

L can see that . Pre crazy days he was a hero not avillian

 

[Photoman15]

I would say that when the pictures came out of Spock and him fighting and Uhura training a phaser on him, he's most likely the villain.

 

[monkeyd]

I would say that when the pictures came out of Spock and him fighting and Uhura training a phaser on him, he's most likely the villain.

Oh, yeah, there was also that! How could I forget those pictures/videos...?

 

[Kirby]

I'm tellin ya, he's Harry Mudd.

 

[Saul]

They also denied Cumberbatch was the Villain.

Whom? That was reported from the get go and even Cumberbatch himself has said that he is portraying the villain.

At the very beginning I think there was a quote from JJ saying he wasn't necessarily the villain, and Cumberbatch in an interview said he might or might not be the villain. But everyone really knew and since then, you are right, he's been straightforward in interviews that he is playing the "not-so-good-guy".

Yep, it wasn't until those pictures of him and Spock were released did they admit he was the Villain.

Pegg also said back in December that he heard no mention of the name Khan in the script. Yet the confirmation from AICN and Trek Movie say otherwise.

I am not questioning that Pegg isn't a stand up guy. I just get the impression he is trying to keep things fun and mysterious. He's the only cast member to deny Khan is in it.

 

[Devon]

Yep, it wasn't until those pictures of him and Spock were released did they admit he was the Villain.

That's not the same as "denying" though. Denying, as you said they did, would be if Abrams & Co. said "He is not the villain," which I do not recall ever happening.

 

[M'Sharak]

Oh no they didn't!: SIMON PEGG DELIVERS US FROM EVIL