Paramount Pictures has released the first footage from J.J. Abrams' hotly-anticipated and hugely-secretive sci-fi sequel Star Trek Into Darkness, with iTunes debuting a rather splendid one-minute 'online exclusive' teaser trailer which should leave both Trekkers and non-Trekkers giddy with anticipation for the film's arrival this coming May.Star Trek Into Darkness reunites Abrams with the cast of his 2009 reboot, with Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho and Anton Yelchin all returning to crew the USS Enterprise as they square off against Benedict Cumberbatch's (Sherlock) as-yet-unrevealed villain. Also joining the cast of the sequel are Alice Eve (Men in Black 3), Peter Weller (RoboCop), Nazneen Contractor (24), Noel Clarke (Doctor Who) and Nolan North (Young Justice).
A new theatrical trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness is set to accompany The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in cinemas next week, while the first nine minutes of the film will be attached to IMAX prints of Peter Jackson's epic fantasy. Perhaps one of those will answer the question that's on everyone's lips - just who the hell is Benedict Cumberbatch playing?
Update - Here's a Japanese version of the trailer, which features an extra snippet of footage very reminiscent of Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan:
Star Trek Into Darkness is set for release on May 17th, 2013.
