Who played Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness?

Who played Khan in Star Trek Into Darkness? The answer is Benedict Cumberbatch.

Benedict Cumberbatch plays Khan Noonien Singh in the 2013 film Star Trek Into Darkness. For much of the story, the character uses the false identity John Harrison, concealing his connection to the earlier Star Trek villain until he reveals who he really is.

This Khan is a genetically engineered superhuman who was awakened by Admiral Marcus and coerced into developing advanced weapons. He hides his 72-member crew inside cryogenic torpedoes, making the weapons central to the film’s conspiracy and later conflict.

The casting prompted debate because Khan had previously been portrayed by Ricardo Montalbán and was established as a Sikh and former ruler of much of eastern Eurasia. Some critics and fans objected to casting a white British actor in the role, while others praised Cumberbatch’s performance. Peter Weller, another option shown here, plays Admiral Alexander Marcus—not Khan.