The twelfth installment in the theatrical Star Trek franchise has been in production for three months, and despite the intense interest, leaks have been kept to a minimum, with just one instance of unofficial photos showing up from the set back in February.  Now, we have another look from the Star Trek 2 set, which is going down under the typically secretive direction of J.J. Abrams.  If you're spoiler-averse and wish to remain encased within the Abrams Mystery Box, go no further.

More than a month ago, director J.J. Abrams officially started principal photography on the much-anticipated follow-up to 2009's stealth-reboot Star Trek, and given all the hubbub that's surrounded the project for so long, it's surprising that we've heard nary a peep about Star Trek 2 since.  Well, good news, everyone, as the first unofficial photos from the Los Angeles set of Star Trek 2 have arrived online.  Turn away if you're even vaguely spoiler-phobic, but if not, then proceed for your first look at the continuing voyages of the Starship Enterprise.

At the beginning of last week, none other than director J.J. Abrams provided an update on the endlessly discussed sequel to 2009's continuity-preserving stealth reboot Star Trek.  The man behind Bad Robot promised that production was set to begin on Thursday of last week, and now, Paramount Pictures has backed him, issuing a formal press release so that we all know Chris Pine is once again swaggering about as Captain Kirk in Los Angeles under the watchful direction of Abrams.

Much to the frustration of fans who want what they want as soon as possible, the sequel to 2009's Star Trek stealth reboot has been a long time coming.  While Paramount Pictures long hoped to have the twelfth theatrical adventure of the U.S.S. Enterprise in theater this summer, but on this rare occasion, the studio allowed J.J. Abrams and his creative team to take some time rather than rushing to a release date.  And here we are, with the as-yet untitled Star Trek 2 just about to shoot.  Abrams himself has shared some insights on 3D and the imminent star date to principal photography.

Benedict Cumberbatch is a damn fine actor, a thespian capable of projecting almost incalculable wit, intelligence, and, in all likelihood, cold hard menace.  There's empirical evidence to support Cumberbatch's excellence, though he remains unknown to the vast majority of American audiences.  That was bound to change sooner or later, but it appears the film that will launch the actor directly into the American mainstream will be Star Trek 2.  In a surprising development, the Cumberbatch has been cast as the villain in director J.J. Abrams's follow-up to his successful 2009 reboot of the theatrical Trek franchise.

Production on the as-yet untitled twelfth installment in the theatrical Star Trek franchise, which we refer to simply as Star Trek 2 for the sake of convenience, is set to begin this very month.  As such, there's an update on the casting of director J.J. Abrams's second venture in the stealthily-rebooted Trek continuity.  No, it's nothing related to just who will portray the sequel's mystery villain after all that business with Benicio del Toro.  Instead, it's fresh word that British actor, writer, and director Noel Clarke will play a supporting role in the Star Trek sequel.

Okay, quite a haul of news related to the as-yet untitled sequel to 2009's Star Trek reboot, which we're just referring to as Star Trek 2 because First Sequel to the Reboot that is Actually Number Eleven in the Theatrical Franchise is a bit unwieldy.  Thankfully, none of this news has to do with the casting of the film's villain, who may or may not be Khan Noonien Singh.  Instead, we're going to talk about the process being used for the sequel's three-dimensionalization, the possibility that it will features sequences filmed with IMAX cameras, and finally, some talk of casting.  Specifically, whether or not we can expect to see Bruce Greenwood as Captain Pike, as well as any original castmembers like Leonard Nimoy or William Shatner.

In the last week, the twelfth theatrical installment of Star Trek, which we're all referring to as Star Trek 2 since its the first sequel in the newly rebooted timeline, gained two new additions to its cast with Alice Eve and Peter Weller.  They'll both appear in mysterious roles, but the project lost the actor who would've played the villain, as Benicio Del Toro dropped out of negotiations for the role.  Now, director J.J. Abrams and Paramount have to find a thespian who can commit to a shoot that starts in January.  A new report by Variety lists two potential replacements: Edgar Ramirez, said to be the front-runner, and Jordi Molla.  Who would they play?  Probably Khan.  And while we're at it, we may have an idea about Weller's character, too.

Everybody loves a good "What if?" casting story about how a recognizable actor almost played a familiar role, only to not have it happen for whatever reason.  In our fabulous modern age of instantaneous communication and informational insatiability, we're often spectators to these scenarios as they happen, or, more accurately, fail to happen.  Today, we've got a new one, as Benicio Del Toro has dropped out of talks with J.J. Abrams and Paramount Pictures to join the rebooted Star Trek sequel.  This means that Abrams and company must now find an actor to play the villain in time for the early 2012 production start on the 3D follow up.

Casting-wise, JJ Abrams already did the heaviest lifting involved in rebooting Star Trek several years back when he rounded up a bunch of young actors who could capably play the familiar crew of the original USS Enterprise.  No mean feat, finding someone with the raw sexual magnetism and peerless line delivery of a William Shatner.  With the sequel, which we're just referring to as Star Trek 2, deep in preproduction before filming starts early next year, Abrams is casting up new roles, though.  The latest actor to sign on for a space-based adventure in the universe created by Gene Roddenberry is none other than Peter Weller.