Watch! New Extended Star Trek Into Darkness; Plus, What Are Hobbit Fans Seeing In The Preview?

Poster for the new Star Trek film

With word only just out on who Benedict Cumberbatch is going to be playing in the new Star Trek film Into Darkness, its indicative that the producers have been keeping things to themselves right up until the film's release in May 2013. However, whilst they're keeping largely schtum, they have released a new extended trailer for the movie that offers a slightly more in depth insight into the sort of environment we can expect to find the Enterprise team finding themselves enveloped in. 

Stills from the new extended trailer

The big talking point of the trailer - which at nearly two minutes long is almost double the length of the previous teaser - is that we get a first glimpse at Cumberbatch's mysterious villain. Rumours persist that Cumberbatch will be reprising the classic Star Trek villain Khan, but it's something the actor himself has vehemently denied, telling Access Hollywood: "I play John Harrison who's a terrorist and an extraordinary character in his own right. He's somebody who is not your two-dimensional cookie cutter villain."

Audiences at The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey have already had a chance to see nine minutes of the new film

Additionally, we get to see plenty more of Chris Pine's young Captain Kirk, as the Enterprise sees itself flung around space like a rag doll in a couple of the quick moving shots that make up the trailer. Of course, if you've already been to see The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey in 3D IMAX cinemas you'll already have far more than just this trailer to go on; the first nine minutes of Star Trek Into Darkness are being previewed ahead of Peter Jackson's new opus. Sites such as the NME have been reporting the goings on in that preview, so don't read the next paragraph if you don't want spoilers.

Star Trek fans are expecting a departure from the franchise's usual style

Cumberbatch's mysterious villain appears in the very first scene of the film, telling a young couple in London that he can save the dying daughter that they're visiting in hospital. Curious. The audience is then transported to space as Kirk and Leonard 'Bones' McCoy try and save a planet from destruction at the hands of a volcano; the clip ends son a knife edge as Spock descends into the heart of the volcano in an attempt to stop the eruption, only to become trapped, leaving Kirk wondering how to save him...

Just exactly who is Benedict Cumberbatch playing?

J.J Abrams film has been almost four years in the making since Paramount Pictures first started signing up producers. The studios caginess over the plot line - they insist they're keeping it closely guarded right up until release - has only heightened expectation among Star Trek fans, who are anticipating a big departure from previous films in the franchise. Does the trailer give us any clues as to whether that will happen? Watch below to see what you think...

New Star Trek trailer