The one Star Trek actor whose return could save the franchise

The Star Trek movie franchise is in a current state of flux with the cast of Star Trek Beyond (2016), led by Chris Pine, tapped to return for “Star Trek 4”. Given the understandable concerns about the cast’s age (after nine years since "Beyond") with reprising their roles in “Star Trek 4”, combined with the disappointing Paramount+ movie “Star Trek: Section 31” – the franchise needs to consider changes to reignite their fanbase.

Star Trek creators should completely flip the canon on its head with an entirely new approach. There was somewhat of an attempt at this in “The Burn” storyline in the series "Star Trek: Discovery" with the sudden act of Dilithium (the element needed for warp drive propulsion) becoming inert and destroying most of Federation starships across the galaxy. This rendered Starfleet and space travel obsolete and on a path of rebuilding the Federation.

As ambitious as the "The Burn" storyline was it didn't necessarily create a new foe for the Federation and for creators to invest in new storylines. In sci-fi and fantasy lore, the hero can (often without their knowledge) be the unwitting catalyst to influence their enemy to become their archnemesis. Star Trek is no different, in that regard, and reigniting the fanbase. So, here’s a Star Trek actor who should be back...but with a surprising twist.

Khah Noonieh Singh (aka Khan) and his genetically enhanced Augments have been a formidable foe of the Federation for years. Well beyond the Eugenics Wars of the 20th Century and all the way to Khan’s revengeful tangle with Captain Kirk in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982). Khan was at his maniacal best as portrayed by Ricardo Montalban in "Wrath". However, Khan was most recently portrayed by Oscar-nominated actor Benedict Cumberbatch, who was equally as menacing in “Star Trek Into Darkness” (2013). Now, here's the plot twist.

Imagine Benedict Cumberbatch (returning as Khan) and all his superhuman Augments being assimilated by the Borg! Khan as a Borg King and an entire Borg collective of enhanced Borg drones with superhuman genetics and intelligence would be an incredibly fearsome foe against the Federation. A Cumberbatch Khan/Borg villain team-up against Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and the Enterprise would be an iconic intergalactic rematch of a showdown of the ages. Not to mention, this would be first time in Star Trek canon that Kirk would engage with the Borg!