Today the 2013 Star Trek: Into Darkness movie took another big step forward. Paramount Pictures issued the official approved synopsis for the film, which reveals some details about the plot. Read the synopsis below (minor spoilers).

Trek Sequel Official Synopsis

Here is the official synopsis for Star Trek Into Darkness...

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.

First thoughts….

Title Declares

Right off the bat you can see how JJ Abrams team see the title "Star Trek Into Darkness" not as a title and subtitle but as a declarative phrase.

Return to topical allegory

Long before the film went into production the team talked about getting more allegorical, like was often the case with TOS. Mentions of "terror," "war zone," and "weapon of mass destruction" certainly feel like topical issues.

The Enemy Within?

Also "within their own organization" implies that a bad guy could be within the Federation or possibly even Starfleet itself.

Kirk’s big test

We have heard things before from the cast about how the villain in the film "tests" Kirk and crew, and how Kirk "earns" his Captain’s chair this time. This bit about it being personal for Kirk, and Kirk sacrificing for true family could imply an evolution for the character. In the 2009 Star Trek film Kirk fell into the role of leader. It sounds like this time Kirk faces an even bigger challenge and one where he could grow into the captain we know who isn’t selfish but has only one true love…The Enterprise and her crew.

Source: Paramount Pictures

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