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The second (and presumably final) trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness is now out. If you were hoping for answers about who Benedict Cumberbatch is playing, you're going to have to wait longer. But, if you were hoping to see Kirk pilot a shuttlecraft all Millennium Falcon style, today's your lucky day!

OK, now Paramount has released the first true teaser trailer for Star Trek Into Darkness. This is the one playing in theaters now and not the 9-minute IMAX preview. Whatever, there's still lens flares in it.

The first movie poster for Star Trek Into Darkness has been unveiled.

Paramount isn't telling us anything about what we're looking at, but it's likely safe to surmise that the individual whose back is turned to us on that pile of rubble is the mysterious character played by Benedict Cumberbatch. Speculation is that the Sherlock star is playing Gary Mitchell, a Starfleet officer and academy friend of James T. Kirk. In the original Star Trek television series, Mitchell was transformed into a godlike being with vast psionic powers when the Enterprise attempted to cross a barrier at the edge of the galaxy.

In director J.J. Abrams' rebooted Star Trek movie universe, the timeline that audiences watched unfold throughout all five Star Trek TV shows and 10 feature movies was altered when Romulans from the 24th century crossed into the 23rd century. This event drastically impacted the flow of historical events between the original Trek timeline and this new one. For example, in the new timeline James Kirk's father was killed in battle and Spock's homeworld of Vulcan was entirely destroyed.

It's important to bear in mind that the identity of Cumberbatch's character hasn't been revealed yet, and that Gary Mitchell might not be reintroduced into the overall Star Trek mythos. However, the Star Trek Into Darkness story synopsis released last week by the studio drops hints that Mitchell might very well indeed be the movie's main villain.

Paramount Pictures has finally given Star Trek movie fans what they have been waiting oh-so long for: a more detailed story synopsis of the new film Star Trek Into Darkness. and judging by what the movie studio has to say about the next cinematic adventure of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise, things will get dark indeed.

Here's what the studio had to say:

In Summer 2013, pioneering director J.J. Abrams will deliver an explosive action thriller that takes Star Trek Into Darkness.

When the crew of the Enterprise is called back home, they find an unstoppable force of terror from within their own organization has detonated the fleet and everything it stands for, leaving our world in a state of crisis.

With a personal score to settle, Captain Kirk leads a manhunt to a war-zone world to capture a one man weapon of mass destruction.

As our heroes are propelled into an epic chess game of life and death, love will be challenged, friendships will be torn apart, and sacrifices must be made for the only family Kirk has left: his crew.

Paramount Pictures has confirmed that the movie's creators and studio have settled on Star Trek Into Darkness as the title for the twelfth Star Trek feature. Confirmation first arrived via TrekMovie through their inside channels.

Coming Soon is reporting that the title for the 2013 Star Trek movie has been chosen and it will be a break away from the old method of using roman numerals to number sequels. Instead, the next Trek will reportedly be called Star Trek Into Darkness.

The site also reveals that URLs have been registered for startrekintodarkness.com and startrekintodarknessmovie.com.

While being interviewed on CNN yesterday about the space shuttle Enterprise's piggybacked trip to New York, original Star Trek cast member Leonard Nimoy was asked by the hosts if there were any plans for him to appear in 2013's Trek movie sequel.

At first Nimoy seemed hestitant to answer the question but then commented, "We're talking. We're talking," and left it at that.

If accurate, this is the first mention of Nimoy being approached to reprise his role of Spock Prime in the new Star Trek film.

Even though director J.J. Abrams has employed heavy duty tactics to try and keep paparazzi photographers away from taking photos, a new image showing Zachary Quinto hanging around the set of the next Star Trek movie has been published. Taken by On Location News and then brought to a wider audience by MTV, the photo shows Quinto wearing what is being reported as a "volcano suit".

The scene in question showed Quinto being dropped quickly down (by wires) against a green-screen background. Lights were being shone close by so the illumination could be reflected in Quinto's visor, as it's believed that this would be light coming from the glow of the active volcano he's under.

No one knows how the scene fits into the (still unknown) storyline for the next Trek flick.

Now that filming has started, the movie studio has issued a press release announcing the start of production on the still-untitled Star Trek sequel:

   Paramount Pictures announced that principal photography has commenced in Los Angeles, CA on the sequel to STAR TREK from director J.J. Abrams. The film will be released on May 17, 2013 in 3D. The 2009 re-launch of the Star Trek franchise by Abrams was met with critical acclaim and a worldwide gross of over $385 million at the box office.

   Paramount Pictures and Skydance Productions present a Bad Robot Production of a J.J. Abrams Film. Returning to their posts on the Enterprise are John Cho, Bruce Greenwood, Simon Pegg, Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, and Anton Yelchin. They are joined by new cast members Benedict Cumberbatch, Alice Eve and Peter Weller.

   Based upon Star Trek created by Gene Roddenberry, the film is produced by J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk, Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The script was written by Alex Kurtzman & Robert Orci & Damon Lindelof.

   Jeffrey Chernov, David Ellison, Dana Goldberg and Paul Schwake are the executive producers. The director of photography is Dan Mindel, ASC, BSC. The production designer is Scott Chambliss. The film is edited by Maryann Brandon, A.C.E. and Mary Jo Markey, A.C.E. The costume designer is Michael Kaplan. The music is by Michael Giacchino.

The reporter for L.A. Times' Hero Complex was on hand for yesterday's first day of principal photography. His report on what he saw and the vibe on the set is now published and online.

"Throughout the morning, the crew members of the Starship Enterprise were scheduled for fittings with the wardrobe department and the atmosphere was a bit like the first day of school with big grins, backslaps, hugs and handshakes," writes Hero Complex's Geoff Boucher. "There was Simon Pegg (Scotty) and John Cho (Mr. Sulu) ducking into the coffee shop just before lunchtime and, on the patio out front, Bruce Greenwood (Capt. Christopher Pike) and cast newcomer Peter Weller discussing their golf swings and the enduring allure of John Le Carre novels. Pegg, with a toothy grin, stopped by Greenwood’s table to pay his respects: 'Nice to see you!' Greenwood responded with a 'My man!'"

A little deeper into the article, Bruce Greenwood talks about the level of security that everyone is maintaining to keep the storyline for the Star Trek sequel under wraps. "Everybody’s got their script – all printed on red paper with every actor’s name stamped across every page — and their brown bag and we’ve all signed these releases that are as long as your leg. The script is good, as you would expect.  You won’t be given anything by anybody when it comes to the movie. It’s easier to push the building than get anything out of anyone."

Today marks the first day of filming on the new Star Trek movie. Shooting is taking place on the Sony lot in Culver City, CA.

The latest casting news breaks from Entertainment Weekly. The publication claims that former 24 actress Nazneen Contractor will play the role of Noel Clarke's character's wife in the movie. No other details surrounding Contractor's character were learned.

British actor Noel Clarke has landed a role in the Star Trek sequel. Right now, all we know about his character's details isn't much: he's a husband and a father, and that's all we've been told.

Clarke is best known for playing the character of Mickey Smith in several seasons of Doctor Who. He's also had roles in the films Centurion, Huge and Screwed.

Two new names have surfaced as possibilities to play the part that Benicio Del Toro was up for, which is rumored to be Khan.

The two actors are Edgar Ramirez (Carlos) and Jordi Molla (Columbiana). Both are of Latino descent and fall in line with the rumor that the new Khan will be played by an actor from the same heritage as was the original Khan, Ricardo Montalban.

Peter Weller has been cast in the next Star Trek. For the present time, his role is a secret.

Weller is best known for playing the cyborg police officer RoboCop in the first two films of that franchise. He's also starred in Buckaroo Banzai, Leviathan and in recent years had memorable recurring roles in TV's Dexter, 24 and Star Trek: Enterprise. [Full story]