STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS Teaser Trailers Debut

So...Shall we begin?

It's been a bit of a wait, but we finally have our first official look at Star Trek Into Darkness, the sequel to 2009's Star Trek from director J.J. Abrams.  Until now, the most we've been given is this plot synopsis:

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.

A one-minute teaser trailer was released this morning, showcasing the crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise facing Benedict Cumberbatch's still-unrevealed character who may or may not be Khan Noonien Singh from Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan or Gary Mitchell from the classic Star Trek TV episode "Where No Man Has Gone Before."  Maybe-Khan-or-Mitchell is featured in this menacing voiceover:

"You think your world is safe.  It is an illusion, a comforting lie told to protect you.  Enjoy these final moments of peace, for I have returned...to have my vengeance."

Since this is a teaser, we're given a number of fleeting images, including Kirk and Bones fleeing from something and jumping off a cliff into an ocean below, Khan-or-Mitchell leaping into view from a very great height and aiming a weapon, a ship (The Enterprise?) emerging from an ocean, Enterprise crewmen falling down corridors after the starship is tilted downwards, Kirk punching Khan-or-Mitchell while Spock looks on, Alice Eve (as Dr. Elizabeth Dehner?  Janice Rand?) screaming in terror, Scotty comforting a crying Uhura, panicked people on the street as nearby buildings collapse, and the final money shot of the Enterprise or some other Starfleet vessel cannonballing into a bay.

Interestingly, there's also a Japanese trailer that has a few minutes of extra footage at the end.  Khan-or-Mitchell has a bonus voiceover where he says "Is there anything you would not do for your family?" followed by an image of Spock's hand reaching out to touch Kirk's despite being separated by protective glass the way the characters did in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan when Spock died saving the Enterprise from destruction.  Intentional red herring or tipoff clue?  You can view this Japanese version here...



Star Trek Into Darkness is scheduled to arrive in theaters on May 17, 2013.