Actor Uses iPhone to Land Role in ‘Star Trek’ Sequel

Mashable Entertainment reports on an actor who used cell phone technology to audition for a role in the new Star Trek film and landed it. Here is the video, and the story below it.



Now here’s something straight out of the future: A British actor used his iPhone to land a role in the J.J. Abrams-directed sequel to Star Trek.

Benedict Cumberbatch is a 35-year-old actor who has appeared in a number of films including War Horse, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and Atonement.

Cumberbatch got word last December that Abrams wanted him to audition via videotape for a role in the much-anticipated Star Trek sequel, The New York Times reports. Only problem? Cumberbatch was vacationing in England at the time, and couldn’t locate anyone to properly film his tryout.

So, the story goes, an “agitated and weary” Cumberbatch simply recorded his audition using an iPhone.

“I was pretty strung out,” Cumberbatch tells the Times, “so that went into the performance.”

Cumberbatch sent the clip to Abrams, only to be hit with a cruel bit of irony — Abrams, too, was on vacation and couldn’t immediately check out the recording. But he eventually got a look at it and told the Times that Cumberbatch’s iPhone-recorded performance was “one of the most compelling audition readings I’d ever seen.

Cumberbatch got the part, although his role has not yet been officially announced. The film blogosphere, however, appears fairly certain Cumberbatch will play the villain Khan.

Numerous stars including Justin Bieber have gone from unknown to discovered via YouTube and other tech platforms, but an established actor using a consumer gadget to land a major role appears to be a first.

- Lena