Star Trek movie casting rumours/spoilers

[petronia]

Cut for clear and present spoilers. I am posting this because I did promise Tuna I was going to say something, and Twitter seemed the wrong place. XD



Cumberbatch playing Khan is whitewashing BS that differs from the Carey Mulligan-in-Drive whitewashing BS only insofar as (by his own account) Cumberbatch didn't go after the role until he was invited. Which makes sense, because if JJ at one point had thrown up his hands and been like, "Let's expand the call - cross off all the physical traits - every actor who can do a convincing charismatic genius sociopath," guess who floats up to the top of that list. The problem, of course, is the systemic one by which it's easy to cast a white actor as a POC character for a host of good reasons, up to and including "they had the best screen test," and very difficult to do the reverse.

Meanwhile, within the context of the world/narrative itself, the fact that dude couldn't pass for Sikh isn't even in the top three reasons why Cumberbatch doing Khan would be a drastically different character from Montalban doing Khan. That's not inherently a bad thing, may even be good (less call for direct comparison). Kirk and Spock are very different! I might attempt to pre-game JJ's thinking on this, because I just completely coincidentally impulse-purchased a DVD set of Star Trek II-IV, which I saw so long ago I may as well not have seen them at all for the difference it makes. I did watch "Space Seed" a while back, and will go out on a limb to predict ZERO scenes of BC seducing dumbass historian chicks into treason via sheer sexual charisma.

Comments

[ayalesca]

I was hoping for a different storyline altogether, I mean, I'm not sure how I feel about redoing Khan at all, but I guess -- oh well? Not in my hands. I know it'll be a totally different take and all, but it just seems a bit weird to have ST II and XII be AUs of one another. But presumably it won't end like II, and ... Spock Prime will probably something something I don't even know but I would love to hear your pregame thoughts. XD

(Tuna still exists on the internets? Hi Tuna!)

[petronia]

I don't think the plot will be anything like ST II - I mean, for one thing, someone (if not the Enterprise) has to find Khan first. AND THEN KLINGONS.

...Is this even confirmed, though? Like, it seems more a rumour with backing than anything. XD;

[ayalesca]

Yeah it does seem weird to have that storyline! But I'm sure JJ will cook something up. I mean you have Spock Prime, he can be Mr Exposition if needed, right? XD

It does have the flavor of a rumor doesn't it? XD I dunno anything.

[starlighter.livejournal.com]

I did watch "Space Seed" a while back, and will go out on a limb to predict ZERO scenes of BC seducing dumbass historian chicks into treason via sheer sexual charisma.

*TEARS* DO NOT CRUSH MY DREAMS, SABINA. Better yet, I want to see him attempt to seduce Kirk away from Spock Starfleet, Enterprise etc.! (*_*)

[incandescens]

Now if he were to seduce McCoy away from Kirk, that could be amusing...

[starlighter.livejournal.com]

Khan: But, baby, I just want to take you away from all this! We could RULE!

McCoy: You want to take me deeper into flea-infested, disease-ridden' space?? ONLY IF I GET TO HYPO YOU FIRST.

[incandescens]

Khan: Two words, baby. No Transporters.

[starlighter.livejournal.com]

McCoy: Oh, please. I'm wise to you and all those other boys... You yahoos 're all talk, no Constitution-class ship of your own.

[starlighter.livejournal.com]

Yep, still floating around LJ! Very quietly! Like ninja fish!

There was definitely a little gleam of arousal in Bones' eye right there, we can only hope it'll be put in Wrath of Khan! JJ, show your fangirls some loooove.

[petronia.livejournal.com]

LOOOL I am back to thinking this has got to be a red herring, it is so ridiculous, but BC and Karl Urban in the sickbay scene is actually pretty tempting. XDD