Benedict Cumberbatch reveals that he told Stephen Hawking about his secretStar Trek Into Darkness(2013) role after growing close to the late theoretical physicist. Directed by J.J. Abrams, who also directed 2009’s hitStar Trekfilm, the sequel sees Chris Pine return to the role of Captain James T. Kirk, following him and the Enterprise crew as they track down former Starfleet member John Harrison, who has become an intergalactic terrorist. Cumberbatch stars in the film as Harrison, who is revealed partway through to be iconicStar TrekcharacterKhan Noonien Singh, a genetically-engineered superhuman.
During a recent interview withVarietyin which he attempts to identify lines from his past movies, Cumberbatch correctly identifies a line fromHawking, a TV movie from 2004 in which he plays the iconic man of science. Cumberbatch reflects on his friendship with the real-life Hawking, calling it an “intense and wonderful period.” The actor shares one memory of Hawking, in particular, recalling how,after they’d both had a few drinks, he told him that he would be playing Khan, which was top-secret knowledge at the time. Check out Cumberbatch’s story below:
That last swell after the job, you know, and to be there at Westminster Abby for his memorial was just incredible. Very, very special man. And my last memory of him was getting drunk on margaritas and telling him at a time when no one else could tell him, and he’d had about three so I think he was a little in his cups.
I said, ‘I know where you live and you can’t run away from me,’ which probably a very bad taste joke, which he grinned at. I go, ‘I’m going to tell you a secret. I’m playing Khan in Sta Trek.’ About half an hour laterI got this IBM voice going, ‘Very good.’He was really excited about it.
What Cumberbatch’s Hawking Story Means For Star Trek
His Khan Was Divisive
Though Cumberbatch doesn’t go into detail about why he told Hawking, it’s well-known that the late scientist was a massive fan ofStar Trek.Hawking even appeared inStar Trek: The Next Generationseason 6 as a hologram version of himself, playing Data in a game of poker on the holodeck. Cumberbatch being cast as Khan was widely assumed prior toStar Trek Into Darkness' release, but it was never officially confirmed, suggesting Hawking kept the actor’s secret safe.
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As for the reception to Cumerbatch’s casting as Khan, the response was relatively mixed.Reviews forStar Trek Into Darknesswere generally very positive from critics, but they weren’t quite as glowing as the ones for the 2009 film. Cumberbatch’s performance wasn’t widely criticized, but his casting in a more general sense as Khan wasn’t universally accepted at the time. At the box office,Star Trek Into Darknesswas still a major hit, grossing $467 millionand becoming the highest-grosser of the franchise worldwide.
Star Trek Into Darknesshas an 84% critics' score and 89% audience score onRotten Tomatoes.
Our Take On Cumerbatch’s Hawking Story & His Time In Star Trek
Khan Was A Standout Villain
Hawkingisn’t Cumberbatch’s most iconic or well-known role. As a TV movie, it just didn’t have the same reach as a theatrically-released project. Still, it features an incredible performance from the actor, and it’s no wonder that he ended up becoming close to the film’s subject.The story also speaks to Hawking’s sharp sense of humor, which was often on display in his interviews and TV appearances.
As the wait continues for theannouncedStar Trek 4, the three Kelvin Timeline movies remain standout sci-fi projects. Even though Cumberbatch’s Khan was divisive at the time,Into Darknessfeatures some incredible action sequences, and is ultimately a worth follow-up to the 2009 movie.Star Trek Into Darknessmight not go down as Cumberbatch’s best movie, but it was certainly a lot of fun, and, 12 years later, the actor’s take on Khan is worthy of praise.
Star Trek Into Darkness
Cast
Star Trek Into Darkness follows Captain Kirk and the crew of the Enterprise as they return home to find their organization under threat from a force within. Kirk leads a mission to apprehend a formidable adversary, navigating personal and professional challenges during this pivotal confrontation.
