Set phasers to smile. For the last two years, Star Trek fans have been waiting patiently for any information about the sequel to J.J. Abrams' popular 2009 film and now they have some good news.

According to new reports, Academy Award winner Benicio Del Toro may soon be tormenting the cast and crew of the Starship Enterprise in an as-yet-unknown role. Director J.J. Abrams will reportedly make an offer to Benicio Del Toro to star as the main villain of Star Trek 2 this weekend.

Variety reports that the Del Toro deal isn't totally locked yet, but it seems unlikely that the actor would turn down the chance to be part of a major blockbuster and sources say the Oscar-winner has already met with Abrams once about the part.

Interestingly, while we're closer to landing an actor to play the villain, we still don't know who the villain will be. In fact, at this point, even Del Toro doesn't know.

Despite meeting with Abrams, in order to keep the character a secret, Del Toro hasn't been told all the details of the role. That won't keep us from speculating of course, so put on your Vulcan ears and let's start debating.

Could Del Toro play another Romulan? A Klingon, perhaps? There are a ton of possibilities for villains in Star Trek 2, especially since the new franchise exists in an entirely separate timeline from the original series.

Then again, it's possible that the original series could inspire a new take on a classic villain. Last year, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci talked about being inspired by the original series and wanting the second film to be a new story that felt like "good old Star Trek." Only time will tell exactly what that means for the movie, but it certainly will play a part in what role Del Toro finally ends up playing.

The 2009 Star Trek did something that a lot of people thought was impossible -- make a nearly 50-year-old franchise sexy, fun, and appealing to modern audiences without offending diehard fans. Delivering an equally successful sequel is a tall order, but the addition of Del Toro to an already strong ensemble cast is a step in the right direction.

What do you think about Benicio Del Toro joining Star Trek 2? Who do you think he will play?

Source: Variety