Benedict Cumberbatch on why he chose Star Trek
He might not have been a mad Star Trek fan before, but Benedict Cumberbatch might be becoming a convert...
Heading into the Broadcasting Press Guild Awards this week, Benedict Cumberbatch was quizzed on one of the two projects he constantly gets quizzed about. Given that Sherlock is currently shooting though, it was Star Trek Into Darkness that was the subject this time around, and the actor had a few interesting things to say.
While keeping things close to his chest and praising JJ Abrams, in particular for his work on the previous Star Trek adventure, he also touched on the fact that he wasn't a deep fan of the material beforehand.
"I must have made some of investment with the story and these characters in the past. I'm doing all these things that are fan boy fodder and I never, ever had that amazing, tribal and really wonderful thing of really knowing everything about something or being obsessed about watching something", he admitted.
He continued, adding that "I'm playing catch-up is what I'm trying to say".
So why choose to take the Star Trek Into Darkness job? Well, after watching the previous movie, "I know I'd love to work with JJ. I just think he's a fantastic director and the proved absolutely correct ... I came to this because I like JJ, not because I was a dye-in-the-wool fan, but I'm slowly becoming one".
Star Trek Into Darkness arrives in cinemas in May.
Red Carpet News TV (via Comic Book Movie).
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Disqus - noscript
No amount of liking JJ or his movie makes anyone a "Star Trek" fan. The connections between the new stuff and nearly the entire body of work that bear the title are coincidental at best.
Hahahahaha. Spoken like a true has-been. Face the music pal, star trek fans come in all shapes and sizes, and the whole message of tolerance, diversity, and exploring the unknown is what makes a star trek fan.
Yeah, I mean the guy specifically said he's becoming a "dye in the wool fan" as a result of JJs Trek, but we'll ignore that part because it actually proves a positive argument for the new movies right?
Show me on the doll where JJ touched you...
Barring Wil Wheaton, Whoopi Goldberg and LeVar Burton, I don't think any of the main Star Trek cast were actually fans of the franchise. In fact, many have struggled with the often manic and certainly demanding fanbase that comes with it.
One doesn't need to be a 'fan' to make a good Star Trek movie. I would regard DS9 as the best Star Trek series by a long shot, and that show directly contradicts the originally philosophy of the series in many, many ways.
You could say the same about the new and old style Doctor Who and yet becoming a fan of the new led me to discover and become a fan of the vintage.
DS9 was by far and away the best Trek series - although the other manifestations did have some good episodes, even Voyager and her double-bills - the vast majority of Trek is drek. And that's coming from on organism that would probably be considered by observers from a higher-intelligence as being a fan of the franchise, judging by how many hours of his life he had spent staring at a TV while it was on.
As for BC, he's just toeing the party line. He knows how rabid and feral ST fans can be and he doesn't want to set off a webquake of bad publicity just before the movie is released.
However, if he really is portraying the movie's antagonist then wouldn't it be in keeping with his character to slag off the ST universe - or the Federation at the very least? That's what a heel wrestler would do, knowing that it is going to generate heat and only put more bums on seats. Perhaps BC has a vested interest in the new franchise. Perhaps that because his character doesn't die at the end.
Hmmmm.
Welcome to the world of PR and marketing. Whats he gonna say, "I took the part for the money, the exposure and the career leg up, and don't really like Star Trek!"?
why not he could be bland like Ford or Willis in some interviews or he could be like LaBeouf and completley slagg off the film he was just in
When ever I have watched an interview BC seems to be one of the few genuine stars out there!
I absolutely agree that DS9 was the best Star Trek Series. It was the only one where every character (and there were many) except for Quark, grew and developed until they were different people by the end of its seven year run. As for contradicting the philosophy. Not sure I agree with that. It contradicted the format, certainly, by having them based on a space station. But the moral philosophy remained the same. The big difference is that they explored the various themes of human nature in a much darker and deeper manner. It wasn't afraid of portraying its main characters as less then ideal people. My word, it was a fantastic series. I cannot believe it has been off our screens for fourteen years...
Having this huge role in a blockbuster scifi action movie is great for Cumberbatch.
Having been a Star Trek fan from the very beginning, I respectfully and wildly disagree.
Lots of silly comments here on what a true Star Trek fan is. A true Star Trek fan is one who allows other to be a Star Trek fan in their own way without taking a hissy fit. I was watching when the first episode of Star Trek aired in the 1960s and have remained a fan to this day and, although the movie franchise has gone in interesting directions, that is what needed to happen to bring it back to life. It had run its course. Cumberbatch is a brilliant choice to bring in on any project. His acting chops bring more weight to it. And whoever did the comparison with old Whovians and new Whovians was correct. Bringing in a new audience can only draw attention to the older incarnations of Star Trek.
The main difference was that the Federation weren't the unquestioned 'good guys'. They did questionable stuff (inventing viruses, breaking cloning treaties, hidden experiments etc), and the overarching theme of cultural imperialism - as one of the Bajoran characters says bitterly 'The Federation. Always right. Always so damned enlightened. Why WOULDN'T anyone want to give up their independence to join the damn federation!'
A very very different view than the purely Federation-centric one presented by the other series.
Narcogen, it was never about the show, it was about the philopphosy and moral themes, this is why it has a longevity no other show does (bar a certain Dr.) everything else can change,as long as that remains intact
I think both explored the theme of an imperfect universe, althouh I thought DS9 was less airy fairey about it
The money? is it or me or are all the posters and trailers just focusing on his character its about the enterprise crew