This is absolutely no surprise as word leaked yesterday that Benicio del Toro passed on taking the lead villain role in J.J. Abrams‘ Star Trek 2, presumably over a difference of opinion on how much money he should be paid, and now Edgar Ramirez (Carlos) is reported to be the frontrunner for the role.
Variety has the news, saying Ramirez is the front-runner with Jordi Molla (Colombiana) also in the mix. Speculation has run rampant that the role being filled was that of Khan, though Abrams told HitFix that was not true. So are we to believe the fact only Latin actors are vying for the role of a character last played by the late Ricardo Montalban in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan is merely coincidence? I guess it could be.
With production set to begin in January, Abrams needs to fill the role quickly and Variety reports Ramirez will be testing for the role today or tomorrow over Skype.
In addition to the Ramirez news, the original RoboCop, Peter Weller, was cast in a role described by his agent, Todd Eisner, as “a substantial role and that Peter is playing a C.E.O.”
Speculation has already began to swirl around this news as people are putting the pieces together following the previous casting announcement of Alice Eve in the film when Variety mentioned “another villain, someone who’s older and in more of a supporting character to del Toro.” Could Weller be playing that supporting character?
Beyond these new characters, the original cast is expected to return for the shoot which will run from January 2012 through June for a release date of May 17, 2013 when it will be released in 3D.
Ramirez will next be seen as Ares in Warner Bros.’ sequel Wrath of the Titans on March 30, 2012.
