Who Will Be the Villain of the Next Star Trek Movie?

Last year, the 2009 release of director J.J. Abrams' Star Trek reignited what many thought was a dead franchise. For the first time in decades, Trek had hit the mainstream. No longer was it looked on as a guilty pleasure or a relic from the 60's, instead being embraced by teenagers, 20-somethings and soccer moms alike.

While Star Trek has traditionally been a TV series, it seems that this update has no immediate plans to return to the small screen. However, in the modern world of entertainment, single movies don't exist anymore, especially when it comes to science fiction epics like Trek. So, naturally, rumors have been flying about a potential Trek sequel since the movie's release.

What we know so far is vague and sketchy. It's practically a given that the same cast and crew will return, eager to continue what they set up in the first film. Producers have more or less confirmed that the movie's plotline will involve some sort of political allegory, in a similar vein to many of the best episodes of all the various TV shows. However, this still leaves the potential plotline vague, especially when things such as the destruction of the planet Vulcan in the previous film make it clear that this alternate Trek universe isn't feeling any commitment to follow the previous timeline.

This leaves many fans pondering just who the villain will be this time around and discussing whether it will be an individual threat, a cosmic cloud or an alien race. While no article can hope to actually have an answer to that subject, it's worth listing out some of the possibilities, if only for the sake of debate. So, without further ado...

Khan Noonien Singh - Kirk's archenemy, as previously portrayed by Ricardo Montalbán, was a genetically engineered tyrant who was accidentally revived in the present (future) day. Though he originally premiered in an episode of the original series, Khan is perhaps most significant for his return in the classic 1982 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, commonly seen by fans as the number #1 Star Trek movie of all time. While some fans are clamoring for a return, Khan's revered status might actually work against him here; with a character this beloved, what if a new version of the character doesn't live up to expectations? Writer Roberto Orci has also expressed reluctance in using Khan again, so his chances appearing seem remote-at least for now.

The Romulans - The villains of the first movie (albeit a future version of them) and one of the foremost antagonists of the Star Trek universe. While according to the old continuity the Federation should be waging war against with the Romulans at this time, it is again worth noting that the timeline has changed. Also, with the Romulans featuring so heavily in the last film, it might be seen as repetitive to feature them again.

The Borg - While a Trek favorite, Kirk never actually faced off against the Borg, who were first pitted against Captain Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Since then, however, they've been a constant enemy in almost every Trek series. Even with the new timeline, though, it seems unlikely the producers would introduce the Borg-but not impossible.

The Klingons - Ah, yes, the old staple. With no Klingons to be seen in the first movie and with the heavy presence they had as, arguably,the foremost villains of the original series, the inclusion of this warrior-like alien race is very, very possible. While it could be argued that people have seen enough Klingons by now, it's worth mentioning that since The Next Generation, Klingons have usually been shown as allies instead of enemies (brief villainous turns in Deep Space Nine and Enterprise notwithstanding). This sequel could be a chance to truly pit the Klingons against the Federation again.

New alien race - Another very possible option, albeit probably not the fan favorite. The powers that be are completely free now to create their own alien race, with a big enough audience that this species could quickly become just as well known as all the classics.

So, will the sequel introduce the Klingons? Will they bring back the Romulans? Or will the threat be a vague, cosmic one reminiscent of Star Trek: The Motion Picture? With the sequel not set to release until 2012, there's still two years of debate ahead.