J.J. Abrams’ new Star Trek has a villain and it isn’t Edgar Ramirez. It’s Benedict Cumberbatch, who delivered the best performance in a film of great performances in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (my #1 of 2011). Best known for his TV portrayal of Sherlock Holmes and for having a name country clubs swoon over, Cumberbatch is lighting the world on fire with roles all over the place. Including War Horse, that movie we wish Ron Howard did.

No word on what character he’ll be playing (per Variety) but it’s unlikely it’ll be Khan so cool your jets. It’ll probably be some disgruntled but sophisticated space asshole whose past somehow ties to Captain Kirk’s. Maybe he wants a refund for Unstoppable.

Whomever it is, Benedict’s a good choice. He even has a face that looks like it’ll hold the hell out of some prosthetics.

 

Here’s who my sources tell me he won’t be playing: