For the Star Trek Into Darkness fans keeping score at home, we probably aren’t getting Khan, but we’re absolutely getting Klingons.
That’s what Into Darkness director J.J. Abrams tells MTV in this informative and spoiler-ish interview, which you can see right here. We’ll analyze what Abrams said after you’ve seen the clip:
Savvy Star Trek fans knew that Klingon scenes were filmed for the initial Trek reboot, and can be viewed in the deleted scenes on the Abrams DVD. But now we’re getting a full introduction to the warrior race, which has caused problems for Capt. Kirk and his Enterprise crew over the years. Thankfully, though, you won’t have to be versed in the history of the Klingon involvement in Deep Space Nine or The Next Generation to understand why they are adversaries of the rebooted Kirk (Chris Pine). "You don't need to know any preexisting stories to enjoy this film," the director says.
Involving Klingons also continues to say – indirectly to fans – that Abrams and his crew understand the elements that Trekkies want to see in these Star Trek films, and that they are going to do their best to find ways to incorporate recognizable story beats while making them fit to this narrative. Klingons probably weren’t essential to Into Darkness, but now that we know they will be a major part of this sequel, I’m incredibly excited to see how Abrams figured out how to work them in. Star Trek Into Darkness will be in theaters on May 17.
