Will Benedict Cumberbatch Play Harry Mudd in the Next 'Star Trek' Film?

COMMENTARY | Recently it was reported that Benedict Cumberbatch has been cast in a role in the upcoming sequel to J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek" film reboot. Aintitcool speculates that he may be playing none other than Harry Mudd.

The rumor seems similar to the one that was reported two months ago that Benico Del Toro was going to play Khan in that same film. The Del Toro casting never went through and it was never proven one way or another which character he was under consideration to play.

Mudd, who appeared in two episodes on the classic 'Star Trek" series was an interstellar con artist who delved in things like drug enhanced women and anatomically correct androids (and all that implies.) Mudd was played by the late Roger C. Carmel, a portly character actor who died of heart disease brought about by complications of alcoholism and drug abuse.

The thought of a skinny Mudd is rather intriguing. While Carmel brought to the role a kind of jolly menace, a man who liked to have fun no matter how much he harmed others, Cumberbatch-based on his performances in the TV series "Sherlock" will take a different approach. His take on Mudd might just be a little bit more manic, verging on madness.

Just like the Del Toro story, this is all speculation. Cumberbatch could be playing a completely different character, perhaps not part of "Star Trek" canon. The actual plot line for the next movie is as secret as the nuclear launch codes.

Cumberbatch, by the way, seems to be getting a lot of work these days. He is in the title role, as fore-mentioned, of "Sherlock," a reimagining of the classic stories of the British sleuth set in modern times. He also has roles in the current "The War Horse" and "Tinker, Tailor,. Solider, Spy." Finally he is due to provide the voice of the dragon Smaug in the upcoming film version of "The Hobbit," which also stars his "Sherlock" costar Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins. Previously he had minor roles in films such as "Atonement" and "The Other Boleyn Girl."

Source: Benedict Cumberbatch, IMDb

Harry Mudd, Memory Alpha

Rumor of the Day: J. J. Abrams has found his mystery Trek villain, Krystal Clark, Blastr, No 4, 2011

Roger C. Carmel, Memory Alpha