Benedict Cumberbatch has long been linked to Star Trek 2, but until today, details on the role he would be taking on have been very sparse.

However, it has been reported this afternoon that the Sherlock actor will play the classic villain Khan in the upcoming movie.

The film has been in production since January 2012, is being directed by sci-fi genius J. J. Abrams and is currently scheduled for release in just over one year’s time, May 17, 2013.

Up until today and ever since the news of his casting broke earlier this year, Benedict’s role has been a closely guarded secret, however there were rumours that he would be playing on of the bad guys, after the English actor was pictured filming fight scenes with Zachary Quinto’s Spock in February.

TrekMovie, claim that Cumberbatch take on the role of exiled Khan Noonien Singh.

The war leader is a genetically engineered superhuman villain, who once controlled more than a quarter of the Earth during the Eugenics Wars. In his backstory, he was revived in 2267 by the crew of the Enterprise and attempts to storm the starship. He fails, but in the 1982 film Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan film, he made his comeback and set out to get revenge against James Kirk, who thwarted him previously.

Khan was originally played by the late Mexican actor Ricardo Montalbán from 1967 to 1982.

In the remake Chris Pine will star as Captain James T. Kirk, Heroes star Zachary Quinto will take on the role of Spock and Simon Pegg will play Montgomery “Scotty” Scott.