Benicio Del Toro to be the villain in the Star Trek sequel?

[Franklin]

What makes Khan so special that the story has to be contrived to include him?

What makes Chekov so special that he should be on the Enterprise in ST09, despite his age?

The answer is that the writers are going to put things in that they think are indicative of Star Trek. Khan has become somewhat iconic, so if they could put a recognizable character in the role, they will.

The character of Chekov is a part of the TOS cast or "family" of characters. The character of Khan, isn't. Although I'll agree that Montalban's portrayal of him in TWOK made the character "somewhat iconic," at least in Trek lore. But it was still a one-off performance.

The TOS cast of characters doesn't really include a go-to arch villain like Batman's Joker or Superman's Lex Luthor. Lex Luthor is indicative of the Superman franchise. The Joker is indicative of Batman. When those franchises went to the big screen in 1978 and 1989, those were the villains each hero faced. Who else could it have been? The arch-enemies in the franchise. It's not so with Khan in TOS.

The Klingons are the arch-enemies in TOS. As a group, they are the closest thing to a Joker or Lex Luthor in TOS lore. So, as the TOS saga starts over, I guess that's why I would hope to see a Klingon as the antagonist in the second movie. That's probably why I think of Kor when I see any picture of a bearded Del Toro. Wishful thinking.

Given that in TUC we saw Kirk near the end of his career finally address his prejudice against Klingons, it would be fitting in a "reverse book-ends" kind of way to see the origins of that antagonism at the beginning of his career.

 

[Trekkie2]

I believe Abrams has made it quite clear in previous interviews that there is no intention of ever doing Khan in the reboot movies. The crazy bent on vengeance has already been done. It's time to move on and give it up.

 

[Ryan8bit]

^ Well, if they think that Khan suits the story they want to tell and is the best character for the story, then fair enough.

I just don't really want nuTrek to be re-hashes of what's gone before. I personally can't see why Khan would prove more necessary to a story than a new character, who presumably would bring new story-telling opportunities of his or her own and who would also be devoid of the baggage that Khan brings - comparisons to Ricardo Montalban etc.

I agree. I'd prefer they don't do Khan, but I won't be upset or anything if they do. I mean, this is practically a reboot, so I think they have license to pick up characters like Khan.

The Klingons are the arch-enemies in TOS. As a group, they are the closest thing to a Joker or Lex Luthor in TOS lore. So, as the TOS saga starts over, I guess that's why I would hope to see a Klingon as the antagonist in the second movie

Yeah, this makes sense to me, and I've never really understood the crowd that complains about too many appearances by Klingons. I feel they are the most likely to appear.

As to your comments about who is part of the family, I'm not sure that really matters. Like I said, their choices about who should be in the cast seemed to be based on the previous movies, not on the show. If it were the show, there should have been other characters picked before Chekov (as in they appeared almost just as regularly, and they appeared first). Like Chapel, or maybe even Rand. They didn't exactly go about how characters assembled in a logical way. That said, it's hard to put logic toward this kind of situation when the writers are just going to pick whatever they feel like. That is their pattern.

 

[indranee]

The biggest problem I have is with the stereotyping of Oriental actors that seems to continue. The old mentality was that "all people of the Orient lookalike and therefore can play any Oriental role". But why is it still happening? Do you see any Oriental actors playing non-Oriental characters (by that I mean characters that aren't of any clear Oriental descent)?

There are just some ethnicities that aren't universal to any actor. It's like a white man playing a black character or vice versa - it just doesn't work (unless the black character was born looking white - a'la The Human Stain). Does anyone think that a blonde haired caucasian male with blue eyes could portray Emperor Hirohito in a war epic? Maybe, but with pretty intensive makeup effects which could be considered pretty offensive. It could be compared to a white person going blackface...

I have a deep respect for people of the Orient and I feel it's unfair for western producers to continue to cast them in any Oriental role, just because they bare a few physical similarities. It's like expecting a Caucasian to play a Hispanic character...

maybe I don't get it but why can't a Korean play a Chinese just as an Irish actor can play a British character? The differences are minute (to the relatively untrained eye, which is most audiences) and it IS called acting. I am originally from India and in Indian movies, a Punjabi character will often be played by a Tamil actor. And, believe me, at times, the physical differences between a Punjabi and a Tamilian can be as glaring as the differences between a Swede and a Greek.

I guess I don't get the outrage.

 

[Therin of Andor]

Abrams would not kill Kor or Koloth. They are classic characters.

Amanda was a "classic character", featured both in TOS and ST IV. And DS9 killed off both Kor and Koloth.

 

[Trekkie2]

As to your comments about who is part of the family, I'm not sure that really matters. Like I said, their choices about who should be in the cast seemed to be based on the previous movies, not on the show. If it were the show, there should have been other characters picked before Chekov (as in they appeared almost just as regularly, and they appeared first). Like Chapel, or maybe even Rand. They didn't exactly go about how characters assembled in a logical way. That said, it's hard to put logic toward this kind of situation when the writers are just going to pick whatever they feel like. That is their pattern.

Chapel was there, even though she was in voice only and said only two words, yes, Rand was not there......by design?

 

[A Little Otter]

My biggest problem is when Hollywood continues to cast say Korean or Chinese actors as Japanese or Taiwanese characters or vice versa.

Exactly! And no Nigerian can play a Kenyan, just like no Swede can play a Norwegian!

 

[6079SmithW]

My biggest problem is when Hollywood continues to cast say Korean or Chinese actors as Japanese or Taiwanese characters or vice versa.

Exactly! And no Nigerian can play a Kenyan, just like no Swede can play a Norwegian!

I have seen this brought up many times on various internet boards and it really boggles me. Are the people claiming to be insulted by these casting choices, or average joe moviegoer, going to be able to tell the physical difference? Is there even a physical difference?

Let's say I post a picture of a blonde woman. Just the picture with no name or any information. Is she American, Canadian, English, Australian, Norwegian, Swedish, German, South African, or from one of another dozen countries with blondes as a part of the population? How can you tell just by physical characteristics?

Why does it matter as an actor is paid to act a part, not literally be that part?

 

[A Little Otter]

J.J. Abrams actually called George Takei to get his blessing to hire John Cho as Sulu because Cho is from Korean descent. Takei gave him some philosophical answer that basically said that it didn't matter.

 

[Hythlodeus]

a little update but nothing new, really
http://www.trektoday.com/content/2011/11/abrams-wants-del-toro-in-trek-2/

 

[Gojira]

AICN is speculating that Benicio Del Toro will be a leader of the Gorn.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52065

 

[Hythlodeus]

AICN is speculating that Benicio Del Toro will be a leader of the Gorn.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52065

well, then they must've been smoking crack.

 

[Gojira]

AICN is speculating that Benicio Del Toro will be a leader of the Gorn.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52065

well, then they must've been smoking crack.

I am sure people will have him playing anything ranging from Khan, the Gorn to nurse Chapple!

 

[Enterprise is Great]

AICN is speculating that Benicio Del Toro will be a leader of the Gorn.

http://www.aintitcool.com/node/52065

Sounds like someone there took an overdose of stupid pills. Gorn...yeah, right.

 

[F. King Daniel]

He could be voicing and doing Avatar-style motion capture.

 

[Set Harth]

well, then they must've been smoking crack.

Sounds like someone there took an overdose of stupid pills.

And this is news?

 

[Captaindemotion]

I've read the post and I thought that the writer was just trying to be funny. I don't think he really meant it.

 

[Nero's Shadow]

IMO I think he will play Khan or Gary Mitchell he has the features for both villains.

 

[Gojira]

IMO I think he will play Khan or Gary Mitchell he has the features for both villains.

My guess is he may play a member from a race we are familiar with such as a Klingon. Outside of him being a familiar Klingon from TOS my guess is he may be a completely new character.

 

[shapeshifter]

Now wait a minute, does a Gorn puppet master really make so little sense?

I find myself intrigued at the scope of the prospect, at least, it could be interesting. He (Del Toro) could become a major ongoing antagonist seeking to control countless species with a goal of an Ultimate war in the Quadrant, something TOS often hinted at but could never commit fully to doing. The best explanation or 'conclusion' we eventually got to those hints was the Carol Marcus statement: "The Federation has kept the peace for a hundred years". He could have been what they had kept the peace against.

*shrugs* Just thinking out loud...