Rumor: Benicio Del Toro Will Play Khan in 'Star Trek 2′

[Update: J.J. Abrams has stated that this rumor is "Not true." In his original story, El Mayimbe said to "expect rebuttals and denials." Which one is telling the truth? We probably won't know for sure for awhile. Original story follows.]

A few weeks ago, we heard that J.J. Abrams wanted Benicio Del Toro for a villain role in the forthcoming Star Trek sequel. Back then, Germain speculated that Del Toro might be a great fit for the role of Khan. Now, El Mayimbe over at Latino Review has heard from unnamed sources that Del Toro will in fact be taking on the role of Khan Noonien Singh.

The role of Khan was immortalized by the late, great Ricardo Montalban. His performance as Khan in the original series and in Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan riveted audiences and critics, and gave us one of William Shatner's most memorable line readings. In Khan, Kirk had found a worthy adversary, a genetically engineered, totally ripped badass who was both ruthless and imposing.

There are many critics and fans who will be disappointed in this news. After all, the new Trek was supposed to strike out in a new direction, not just retread old characters and plotlines. Drew McWeeny makes an obvious point, though: the new Star Trek film takes place in a different timeline than the original series. With the flexibility to take each character in radically new directions, who's to say that Del Toro will even be attempting to play the same Khan that Montalban did?

The Star Trek sequel will begin filming in January for a summer 2013 release date.

• Alice Eve to Play Major New Character in J.J. Abrams' 'Star Trek' Sequel
• 'Star Trek' Sequel Lands in 3D May 2013, Michael Giacchino Will Return to Score
• 'Star Trek 2′ to Begin Filming January 2012, Probably Won't Open Until Summer 2013 or Later
• J.J. Abrams Wants Benicio Del Toro To Be Next 'Star Trek' Villain
• J.J. Abrams Officially Confirmed to Direct 'Star Trek' Sequel
• J.J. Abrams Says 'Star Trek 2′ Will Put Story And Characters Before Release Date

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Neil Patrick Harris 'Sorry' For Offending Transgender Community

Neil Patrick Harris is apologizing for offending the transgender community this week while co-hosting Live with Kelly.

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Ashley Greene Gets Flirty in New 'Pan Am' Clip

Greene's Amanda recalls her old memories with Ted during a meal, but the pilot plans to make her jealous with the help of Laura.

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Celebrity Birthdays - December 2, 2011

Happy Birthday to: Pop-princess Britney Spears (1981) Actress Cassie Steele (1989) Singer Teairra Mari (1987) Actress Jana Kramer (1983) Canadian singer Nelly Furtado (1978) Foo Fighters bass...

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'Burn Notice' Recap: 'Depth Perception' (5.16)

The last few episodes of Burn Notice have been intriguing stand-alone stories, but this week it's time to get back to the show's mythology - and it does a solid job of juggling multiple plotlines...

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'The Invisible War' Trailer - 'This Film is Not Yet Rated' Director Turns His Attention to Rape in the Military

The Sundance Film Festival won't kick off til January, but we already have the first look at what's bound to be one of the most disturbing films to come out of the festival. In The Invisible War, This Film is Not Yet Rated and Outrage director Kirby Dick has turned his talents as a documentarian to the underreported epidemic of rape in the military. The subject matter all but guarantees this film will be a tough one to watch, but if Dick's previous work is anything to go by, it's bound to be a powerful and important one as well. Watch the trailer after the jump.

[via Bleeding Cool]

It goes without saying that even one rape is a tragedy, just as any one death would be, but the most chilling statistic Dick offers in this trailer is that "Military women are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire." Something is seriously amiss when soldiers need to fear their comrades as much as they do their enemies, but works like The Invisible War are a step in the right direction.

Synopsis:

THE INVISIBLE WAR is a groundbreaking investigative documentary about one of our country's most shameful and best kept secrets: the epidemic of rape within our US military. Today, a female soldier in Iraq and Afghanistan is more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire with the number of assaults in the last decade alone in the hundreds of thousands.

Focusing on the powerfully emotional stories of several young women, the film reveals the systemic cover up of the crimes against them and follows their struggles to rebuild their lives and fight for justice. THE INVISIBLE WAR features hard-hitting interviews with high-ranking military officials and members of Congress that reveal the perfect storm conditions that exist for rape in the military, its history of cover-up, and what can be done to bring about much needed change.

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National Board of Review Calls 'Hugo' Best Film of 2011

And just like that, Martin Scorsese's Hugo became an Oscar contender. While I like the movie a good bit, primarily for very specific elements, I didn't really expect to see Hugo turning into something that would be an awards-season player. But the National Board of Review disagrees, and today the board named Hugo the best film of 2011 and Martin Scorsese best director. Check out the NBR's full evaluation of 2011 below.

Board president Annie Schulhof said in a statement,

Hugo is such a personal film by Martin Scorsese. It is a tribute to the early years of cinema that uses today's cutting-edge technology to bring the audience into a completely unique and magical world. It is visually stunning and emotionally engaging.

I'm pretty surprised to see Margin Call director J.C. Chandor get the nod for debut director. (I would have gone with Martha Marcy May Marlene's Sean Durkin.) I'm very happy to see Christopher Plummer get the best supporting actor recognition. Sure, the Oscar campaign for Andy Serkis in that category is great, but Plummer was just devastating and wonderful in Beginners. Likewise, I'm happy to see some recognition for 13 Assassins. The 'top independent films' lineup is a bit suspect, however, just because I think the NBR's definition of 'independent' is a bit more loose than mine.

And the NBR continues a love affair with Clint Eastwood, calling the thoroughly mediocre J. Edgar one of the year's best.

Best Film: Hugo

Best Director: Martin Scorsese, Hugo

Best Actor: George Clooney, The Descendants

Best Actress: Tilda Swinton, We Need to Talk About Kevin

Best Supporting Actor: Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Best Supporting Actress: Shailene Woodley, The Descendants

Best Original Screenplay: Will Reiser, 50/50

Best Adapted Screenplay: Alexander Payne and Nat Faxon & Jim Rash, The Descendants

Best Animated Feature: Rango

Breakthrough Performance: Felicity Jones, Like Crazy

Breakthrough Performance: Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Debut Director: J.C. Chandor, Margin Call

Best Ensemble: The Help

Spotlight Award: Michael Fassbender (A Dangerous Method, Jane Eyre, Shame, X-Men: First Class)

NBR Freedom of Expression: Crime After Crime

NBR Freedom of Expression: Pariah

Best Foreign Language Film: A Separation

Best Documentary: Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Special Achievement in Filmmaking: The Harry Potter Franchise – A Distinguished Translation from Book to Film

Top Films (in alphabetical order): The Artist, The Descendants, Drive, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2, The Ides of March, J. Edgar, Tree of Life, War Horse

Top 5 Foreign Language Films (in Alphabetical Order): 13 Assassins, Elite Squad: The Enemy Within, Footnote, Le Havre, Point Blank

Top 5 Documentaries (in Alphabetical Order): Born to be Wild, Buck, George Harrison: Living in the Material World, Project Nim, Senna

Top 10 Independent Films (in Alphabetical Order): 50/50, Another Earth, Beginners, A Better Life, Cedar Rapids, Margin Call, Shame, Take Shelter, We Need To Talk About Kevin, Win Win

• 'Hugo' – What Did You Think?
• 'Hugo' Review: Martin Scorsese's Most Exultant Expression of His Love For Film
• 'Hugo' Trailer #2 Focuses On The Human Over Fantastic
• Martin Scorcese's 'Hugo' Pays Joyful Homage to Old-School Filmmaking with New-School Technology [NYFF Sneak Preview Reaction]
• Martin Scorsese Introduces 'Hugo'

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Competition Line-Up of the 2012 Sundance Film Festival Announced

58 qualified independent films from the U.S. and many other countries have been selected to compete during the prestigious festival that will be held on January 19-29 in Utah.

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Celebrity Birthdays - December 1, 2011

Happy Birthday to: Singer Janelle Monae (1985) Model Chanel Iman (1990) American Singer/songwriter Mat Kearney (1978) British actress Emily Mortimer (1971) Actress/comedian Sarah Silverman (19...

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Judy Lewis, Secret Daughter of Hollywood, Dies at 76

Ms. Lewis, the daughter of an unwed Loretta Young and Clark Gable, was 31 before she confronted her mother and learned the truth of her upbringing.

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