When J.J. Abrams\’ film \”Star Trek Into Darkness\” is released on May 17, 2013, it will have some very familiar faces in it. Two new faces that weren\’t seen in the 2009 film \”Star Trek,\” which Abrams also helmed, will also be added. Here\’s a rundown of the new and returning players for the upcoming film.

James T. Kirk

Kirk was made the captain of the Enterprise in 2009\’s \”Star Trek,\” though it took him quite a while to earn the trust and respect of the crew. He had a reputation for womanizing and being impulsive and headstrong, though he\’s has learned to control those traits somewhat. He is portrayed by Chris Pine, the youngest child of actor Robert Pine and former actress Gwynne Gilford. He\’ll next play another rebooted character from a movie series, starring in \”Jack Ryan\” as Jack Ryan, a role previously portrayed by Harrison Ford, Alec Baldwin, and Ben Affleck.

Spock

Spock is a half-human, half-Vulcan science officer aboard the Enterprise. His Vulcan heritage means that he prefers to use logic and reason, rather than emotion, to make decisions. He knows the Starfleet code inside and out, and he\’s occasionally a thorn in the side of the ship\’s captain-though Kirk finds his knowledge and decision-making skills invaluable. He\’s portrayed by Zachary Quinto, who can be seen in the FX series \”American Horror Story.\”

Uhura

Lieutenant Uhura is a communications officer whom Kirk tried to seduce before the two were stationed on the same ship together. She initially despised him and was enamored of Spock, with whom she\’s in a relationship in \”Star Trek Into Darkness.\” Kirk finally won her over with his bravery, and she is now respectful of his title and rank. Uhura is a great officer who holds a lot of clout on the bridge of the Enterprise. She is portrayed by Zoe Saldana, who is set to be in the Marvel Studios film \”Guardians of the Galaxy\” and is said to be reprising her role in the rumored \”Avatar\” sequel.

Scotty

Scotty, short for Montgomery Scott, is the Enterprise\’s chief engineer, a position he earned after the former chief was killed during a mission. In this Star Trek universe, Scotty was exiled to the cold planet to which Kirk found himself exiled in the 2009 film \”Star Trek.\” Scotty and Kirk devise a plan to get back on the Enterprise, and Scotty becomes part of the crew. He\’s portrayed by Simon Pegg, who appeared in the zombie spoof \”Shaun of the Dead\” and will next appear in the 2013 film \”The World\’s End.\”

Sulu

Sulu is a helmsman for the Enterprise, which means he\’s responsible for the navigation of the ship. As a lieutenant, he\’s well respected among his fellow bridge officers. He\’s also brave and unafraid of combat, as evidenced by his willingness to take part in dangerous missions. John Cho, who\’s famous for the \”Harold and Kumar\” movies and will be seen in the upcoming \”Sleepy Hollow\” adaptation, plays the role.

Chekov

In the original \”Star Trek\” television series, Chekov was a navigator and security officer. Abrams changed the character for 2009\’s \”Star Trek,\” making him a math prodigy who\’s just seventeen years old. Chekov\’s ability to perform complex mathematical problems in short amounts of time is a big help to the crew, especially in risky situations. He\’s portrayed by Anton Yelchin, who voiced Clumsy Smurf in \”The Smurfs\” and the upcoming \”The Smurfs 2.\”

Dr. McCoy

Also known as \”Bones,\” Dr. McCoy is a surgeon who serves as the ship\’s chief medical officer. He\’s been friends with Kirk since they were at Starfleet Academy together, and he\’s instrumental in getting Kirk his initial assignment aboard the Enterprise. McCoy is played by Karl Urban, who was in \”The Chronicles of Riddick\” and will also appear in the upcoming sequel, \”Riddick.\”

Dr. Carol Marcus

Dr. Marcus is an ambitious scientist who loves conducting experiments and working in a lab. Spock is threatened by Marcus because she has many of the same credentials he has, which he feels makes his position on the ship redundant. Alice Eve, who held a recurring role on the television show \”Entourage\” and will be seen in \”Cold Comes the Night,\” plays the role..

John Harrison

Harrison is the main villain in \”Star Trek Into Darkness,\” (read more here) though his true identity is shrouded in mystery. He has it out for Kirk and Starfleet in general, and rumors have swirled that he may secretly be iconic villain Khan. He\’s played by Benedict Cumberbatch, who\’s known for his take on the title character in the BBC\’s \”Sherlock.\”

As a long time fan of Hollywood I was able to carve out the perfect career in the entertainment industry by writing initially for celebrity news sites and am now the owner of Movie Room Reviews.

As a long time fan of Hollywood I was able to carve out the perfect career in the entertainment industry by writing initially for celebrity news sites and am now the owner of http://MovieRoomReviews.com

Author Bio: As a long time fan of Hollywood I was able to carve out the perfect career in the entertainment industry by writing initially for celebrity news sites and am now the owner of Movie Room Reviews.

Category: Entertainment
Keywords: star trek into darkness, chris pine, zoe saldana, zachary quinto, alice eve, benedict cumberbatch