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An interesting theory hint that Benedict Cumberbatch ’s character inStar Trek Into Darknesswas really an sham , and there ’s a compelling argument to fend for it . J.J. Abrams rebooted theStar Trekfranchise’sOriginal Seriesin 2009 withStar Trek , creating an alternate timeline of result . This allowed for more narrative freedom from the ground canon of theStar Trekfranchise , although the three existing films of Abrams’Kelvin Timeline have still managed to capture the feel of dangerous undertaking that madeThe Original Seriesso democratic .
The second debut forStar Trek ’s Kelvin TimelinewasStar Trek Into Darkness , which saw not only the return of Chris Pine ’s Captain Kirk and the ease of the Enterprise ’s bunch but the introduction of new characters to the timeline . One such unused face was Benedict Cumberbatch ’s John Harrison , a villain who seemed intent on destroying Starfleet . However , a 2nd - routine twirl revealed that Harrison was none other than Khan Noonien Singh , Kirk ’s nemesis first introduced inThe Original Series’season 1 episode " Space Seed . "
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Although the twist was not meet warm by theStar Trekfaithful , one possibility posted toRedditsuggests that it may have been a far smarter narrative than it seemed . The theory postulate that Cumberbatch ’s character was never the real Khan , and there ’s good evidence withinStar Trek Into Darknessand the other Kelvin Timeline movies to support this theme . As a result , while the Khan wind wascontroversial forStar Trek Into Darknessin 2013 , this theory paint it alternatively as a clever dissimulation of Khan and his followers , making it on the Q.T. unadulterated for the updated Kelvin Timeline .
Why Abrams' Khan Twist Was So Unpopular
Star Trek Into Darkness ' Khan twist was tremendously unpopular upon release in 2013 . The reasons include the casting of a white worker to play the part of a reference who is canonically from South Asia , as well as the way Abrams ' picture show blatantly recycled an established plot thread fromThe Original SeriesandStar Trek II : The Wrath of Khan . However , while it seemingly made habit of a fan - favourite scoundrel , Star Trek Into Darknesssimply did n’t do Department of Justice to Khan ’s role or original story outside of the Kelvin Timeline , leading toStar Trek Into Darkness ' Khanbeing widely unpopular as a villain ( especially in comparison to hisTOScounterpart ) .
Benedict Cumberbatch’s Villain Is Identified As John Harrison
Perhaps the great piece of evidence offered by the motion-picture show itself to corroborate theRedditimposter theory is the characterization of Khan inStar Trek Into Darkness . First introduce as a rogue Starfleet agent named John Harrison , Benedict Cumberbatch ’s eccentric is only afterwards revealed to have been woken from cryosleep as part of Admiral Marcus ' covert architectural plan to ignite a war with the Klingons . As Cumberbatch ’s character is woken from cryosleep after centuries of lie sleeping , the implication is that his title to Khan ’s identity element is unverified , and although the identicalness of John Harrison is said to have been fabricated , there ’s no genuine indication that Cumberbatch ’s character is actually Khan beyond the scope ofStar Trek Into Darkness .
The Impostor Wants To Protect The Real Khan
The imposter hypothesis also consider that the Khan ofStar Trek ’s Abrams picture timelineis an faker , suggesting a logical reason for the mismanagement . The possibility posits that Benedict Cumberbatch ’s theatrical role is actually one of Khan ’s subordinates and that he only exact to be Khan to protect his leader . This would make sense given the nature of the character of the Khan previously depicted inThe Original Series , as he ’s a measured , highly prescient tactician .
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In this way , the imposter theory trust that Khan instructed his followers before go in cryosleep that whoever woke first should identify as the loss leader . This would assist the survival of the fittest of the real Khan , but it also espouse in a lucid sense . After all , out of 73 cryotubes , Cumberbatch ’s character reference says only one was spread out . The chances that Admiral Marcus would coincidently open up the cryotube holding none other thanStar Trek ’s iconic villain , Khan , are slim to none , meaning that the possibility really becomes more plausible than the account deliver byStar Trek Into Darkness .
Star Trek Into Darkness' Fake Khan Theory Explains Its Canon Changes
In accession to making logical sense withinStar Trek Into Darkness ' own narration , the imposter hypothesis would also excuse away other event with Abrams ' movie . Firstly , leading up to the photographic film ’s press release , Benedict Cumberbatch insisted that he was not play Khan . While the plastic film seemingly reveal this as a marketing fake - out , it could be that Cumberbatch was enjoin the truth all along , and his character was never the tangible Khan .
However , one of the most compelling arguments for the possibility really stem from a combining of behind - the - scenes selective information and the nature ofJ.J. Abrams’Star Trekretcon . AsStar Trek ’s Kelvin Timeline was divide from the Prime Universe during the opening scene ofStar Trek , there are clear define bound to Abrams ' retcon . The cast of a white role player in the theatrical role of Khan - which Mexican thespian Ricardo Montalbán previously played - make no sense as a resolution . As the character of Khan was supposedly frigid hundred before , his appearing should theoretically be the same . The casting of an worker who looks nothing like Monatalbán may have ab initio seemed insensitive , but the imposter hypothesis would really explain it away by using the logical system of the establishedStar Trekcanon .
In this agency , Admiral Marcus heat Cumberbatch ’s character as a result of the devastation ofVulcan inStar Trekis explained by the continuity shift of the Kelvin Timeline , but events leading up to Khan ’s cryosleep are not . This mean that exchange to the specific portrayal of Khan mold glaring plot golf hole , which is something that only the fake Khan theory can account for .
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What The Fake Khan Theory Means For Star Trek 4
AsStar Trek 4is slate for a later 2023 release date and will continue the story of the Kelvin Timeline , it ’s possible that the fake Khan theory will be either prove or disproven within the enfranchisement . Star Trek Into Darkness’ending see Cumberbatch ’s character placed back into cryosleep , meaning that the role player could well return , although his Khan being so unpopular would make that particular narrative route inadvisable . If Abrams instead opted to search the bastard Khan theory , Star Trek 4could contribute the Kelvin Timelinea more faithful version of the character and explain off one of its most criticized twists to date .
Though the imposter Khan theory is surprisingly plausible , it ’s unlikely to be proven genuine . give how unpopular theStar Trek Into Darknesstwist was , it ’s unlikely that subsequent picture will revisit it , and the enfranchisement will likely leave the reboot ’s rendering of Khan Noonien Singh alone in the time to come . However , the theory itself remains logically intelligent and genuinely compelling , pointing out incisively whereStar Trek Into Darknesswent wrong in its handling of the iconic Khan .
Next : Star Trek ’s Kelvin Timeline Movies , Ranked
