By Crewman Becky | January 8, 2012 - 12:34 am

Three more actors have been slated to join the cast of J.J. Abrams’s next Star Trek movie. Benedict Cumberbatch (War Horse), Naaneen Contractor (24) and Noel Clarke (Doctor Who) were all announced earlier this week but their characters’ roles are still technically a mystery.

Benedict Cumberbatch, the British actor most recently seen in "War Horse" and "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy," will play the main villain in the "Star Trek" sequel. This was the role for which Abrams originally wanted Benicio Del Toro, but had Édgar Ramirez circling once Del Toro was out of the picture, Variety reported.

There is still no word on what character Cumberbatch will play. When Del Toro led as the front-runner, Internet rumors suggested Khan, the legendary villain originally played by Ricardo Montalbán in "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan," would reappear in Abrams’ alternate "Trek" universe.

EW has learned that Nazneen Contractor (24) has been cast in the upcoming sequel to J.J. Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek reboot. The actress has been tapped to play the wife of Noel Clarke’s character in the film. (Variety reported earlier this week that the Doctor Who star has signed on as “a family man with a wife and young daughter.”)

Contractor is just one of the newcomers to come on board for the yet-to-be-titled Star Trek sequel. In addition to Contractor and Clarke, Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Weller, and Alice Eve will all appear in the film, which will also feature original cast members Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto. The eagerly anticipated follow-up, which has Abrams at the helm again with screenwriters Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, is scheduled to engage moviegoers May 17, 2013.

(Source; Movie Night MTV.ca and EW.com )