Report: Idris Elba In Talks To Take On Villain Role In ‘Star Trek 3’
The rebooted Star Trek series could see its second cult-favorite Brit villain in a row, according to a new report. Word has it that human aphrodisiac Idris Elba is in talks to take on a role in Star Trek 3, which is set to start filming quite soon.
The latest report on Elba comes courtesy of Variety, which cites sources close to Star Trek 3 as saying that Elba is in early talks to take on the villain role. Details are scarce on Elba’s possible role, but it appears that he may well be playing a Klingon, a member of the warlike race that bedevils Captain Kirk and the Enterprise crew.
So far, the Klingons haven’t had a fully realized presence in the rebooted Star Trek franchise, making only a brief appearance on screen in Star Trek Into Darkness before getting mowed down by the film’s real star, Benedict Cumberbatch. Their appearance in the Star Trek sequel, though, led many to believe that they were a near certainty for Star Trek 3, and the talk surrounding a potential role for Elba appears to support the idea that the classic Star Trek villains will get a lot of screen time for Star Trek 3.
Star Trek isn’t the only major property Idris Elba has been mentioned in connection to. Just a few months back, during the height of the Sony email scandal, word that then-Sony Pictures president Amy Pascal wanted Elba to play the next James Bond set the internet ablaze with fan fantasies and no small amount of pushback from commenters less than happy that the future Bond could be a black man.
Elba might not be the only big name joining in for Star Trek 3, if rumors are to be believed. Word has been circulating for some time that Bryan Cranston, star of Breaking Bad, could also sign on for Star Trek 3. Rumor had it that Cranston, too, would be playing a Klingon, so that gives even more support to the idea that the Klingons will be the next big Star Trek adversaries.
Whether Elba and Cranston actually beam up or not, Star Trek 3 will probably have a significantly different feel from the previous two Star Trek movies. Fast and Furious director Justin Lin has moved into the director’s chair for Star Trek 3, as reboot master J.J. Abrams stepped away to helm Star Wars Episode 7. Simon Pegg, who plays Scottie in the series, has also taken up the role of co-writer for the film, which is set to begin production in June of this year, with a release date set for some time in 2016.
[Photo by John Sciulli/Getty Images.]
