From the moment CBS Studios first announced its Star Trek: Khan series, anticipation has been building around who exactly might be tapped to bring one of the greatest Star Trek villains to life next within the franchise. There has been a lot of anticipation and speculation about who might take on the role first originated by Ricardo Montalbán.
Many fans wondered if CBS Studios might perhaps bring back Benedict Cumberbatch to voice the character following his portrayal of Khan in Star Trek: Into Darkness. Cumberbatch delivered a chilling and brilliant performance in the role of the film’s key foil so it would have seemed natural for CBS Studios might look to bring him back into the fold via Star Trek: Khan. Many would have loved to see Cumberbatch return to the franchise, but doing so ultimately wasn’t in the cards, and understandably so as the goal is to bring fans a new reimaging of the Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan story.
But fear not, CBS Studios has truly found the perfect actor to take on the role of Khan for the upcoming scripted audio series in actor Naveen Andrews, who is no stranger to playing dynamic and complicated characters. Andrews will lead the voice cast in the role of Khan in Star Trek: Khan, which has officially wrapped recording paving the way for the series’ release later this year.
As previously revealed, Star Trek: Khan will expand upon the mythos of Khan by exploring the untold events that unfolded in the desolate world of Ceti Alpha V after Captain Kirk left Khan and his followers stranded there, paving the way for the iconic clash in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. Via the official synopsis for the series:
“History remembers Khan Noonien Singh as a villain, the product of a failed attempt to perfect humanity through genetic engineering whose quest to avenge himself on Admiral James T. Kirk led to unimaginable tragedy and loss. But the truth has been buried for too long beneath the sands of Ceti Alpha V. How did Khan go from a beneficent tyrant and superhuman visionary with a new world at his fingertips to the monster we think we know so well? Recently unearthed, the rest of Khan’s story will finally be told in Star Trek: Khan.”
Andrews has been tasked with quite a daunting challenge in exploring the complex psyche of one of Star Trek’s most iconic villains via the audio series, which will reply strongly upon his voice performance. This also marks a major career first for Andrews marking his first venture into the world of audio dramas, where he’s sure to leave his mark with what we know will be a chilling performance!
Additional voice cast are set to be announced in the coming months, but CBS Studios has also confirmed the addition of Wrenn Schmidt to the Star Trek: Khan cast. Schmidt will be playing Lt. Marla McGivers, a former Starfleet historian who followed Khan into exile on Ceti.
With the production having officially wrapped and our first two major casting announcements coming in, it’s likely we won’t have to wait too much longer for an official release date. At this point, we simply know that Star Trek: Khan will be released on all major podcast platforms sometime this year via CBS’ Eye Podcast Productions Inc. CBS Studio’s podcasting arm.