Connect with us

Hi, what are you looking for?

Star Trek Into Darkness

Benedict Cumberbatch Credits an iPhone to Winning Role in Star Trek Sequel

Benedict Cumberbatch Credits His iPhone to Winning Role in Star Trek Sequel

Benedict Cumberbatch won the role of the villain in J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek sequel by submitting his audition on an iPhone, reported The New York Times. It all started when Cumberbatch received a call last Christmas that the director was “very interested” in having him play a “not-so-good guy,” in the new film.

At the time, the Sherlock star could not get his hands on any recording device. He ended up begging some of his friends to help him.

I was down in Gloucestershire with some friends, who turned out to be useless. I won’t mention their names, they’re quite well known friends, a director and a very brilliant actress. Bless them, they were busy with his kid. I then went down to London and begged my best friend there, Adam Ackland. He’s always been there to put out the fire. And he said, “Let’s do it,

This is how the actor, who also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s War Horse and will star in Peter Jackson’s upcoming The Hobbit, ended up shooting the video at his friend’s kitchen late at night looking “agitated and weary.” Submitting the clip did not make him any less agitated, as he was only told by an assistant that the filmmaker was on vacation. A week later, Cumberbatch received a cryptic email saying, “You want to come and play?” to which he replied as follows, “What does this mean? Are you in town, you want to go for a drink? I’m English, you’ve got to be really straight with me on this. Have I got the part?”

Abrams, on the other hand, described the audition video as “one of the most compelling audition readings” he had ever seen. In the new film, which is expected next summer, Cumberbatch will star alongside 2009 stars Chris Pine (Kirk), Zoe Saldana (Uhura), Simon Pegg (Scotty) and Zachary Quinto (Spock).

RELATED: Benedict Cumberbatch Talks Shooting Locations & His Role in Star Trek Sequel

Though talkative about the audition, Cumberbatch has refrained from revealing details about the movie itself. “You could stick a knife in my thigh, and I wouldn’t tell you,” he said. But he did admit to having a weak spot: “Pull the hair on my head the wrong way, and I would be on my knees begging for mercy,” he said. “I have very sensitive follicles.” So, curious Trekkies now know where to reach. If that doesn’t work, we can always turn to some mind-penetrating Vulcan techniques.

Written By

Alex works as a tax attorney advising non-profit organizations and, as a hobby, directs theater plays with the Bulgarian Amateur Theater in Boston. Like many performance art lovers, Alex enjoys writing reviews for plays, dance performances, and movies. She became an avid Star Trek fan in the ’90s, when she first watched TNG in her native country of Bulgaria. Alex is fluent in Bulgarian, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian and French.

1 Comment

1 Comment

  1. Buzz Cagney

    April 28, 2012 at 12:51 am

    JJ made him audition? Presumably JJ has seen his work……!?

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Facebook

More



Trek Geeks Podcast

Shop LLAP

Trending Articles

News

An article celebrating the longevity of the Star Trek franchise has given us our first look at Michelle Yeoh’s upcoming Star Trek: Section 31...

Preview

With the launch of the final season of Star Trek: Discovery right around the corner, Paramount+ has released an official trailer for the series’...

Books

Back to the Stars: Rediscovering Star Trek’s Legacy with Captain to Captain – A Retro-Review There are near-countless Star Trek novels out there. Unlike...

News

Production has begun on Star Trek: Section 31 The 14th Star Trek film has now begun production, as Paramount+ announced the start of production...

AboutContactTip UsTerms of UsePrivacy Notice

TrekNews.net, the website, the promotion thereof and/or any exhibition of material created by TrekNews.net is not endorsed or sponsored by or affiliated with CBS/Paramount Pictures or the STAR TREK franchise.


© 2011–2024 TrekNews.net