This moment has been anticipated over the last couple years. Cumberbatch drew notice in his native UK first, with his portrayal of Stephen Hawking in an eponymous tele-film. Recently he’s been making inroads across the pond with his superb modern-day take on Sherlock Holmes and with supporting roles in British productions like War Horse, Atonement and, a better display of his talents, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. Cumberbatch has also scored a major hit in London’s West End with Frankenstein, and this year he’s got season 2 of Sherlock as well as The Hobbit.

Now he’s crossing the pond, taking a lead role in a bonafide Hollywood blockbuster: JJ Abrams’ Star Trek sequel. Deadline reports he’s signed on for a “lead role” but has no other details to give—this being a JJ Abrams production, everything is a SUPER BIG SECRET. But he’d have to be a villain, right? I’m not a Trekkie so feel free to email and yell about me for not knowing about Zorgon Sixx from the Blargh Galaxy, but to my knowledge, the first movie established the whole Enterprise gang. That leaves a villain role. Or I suppose he could be a Vulcan. I mean…he kind of looks perfect to play Zachary Quinto’s cousin, you know? At any rate, prepare yourselves, Cumberbitches. The Batch is coming to America. And for the rest of you, he’s staggeringly talented (not an exaggeration, studio reps have said to my face, “Benedict Cumberbatch is staggeringly talented”) so his arrival in mainstream US productions is kind of a big deal.

If you’re a regular reader you know of my Cumbercrush. And you’ve probably noticed that Lainey always posts the assiest photos of him she can find, just to annoy me. Lainey, you are not allowed to attach assy photos to this post. Let me have my Cumbercrush in peace!

You’ve attached assy photos, haven’t you?

You bitch.

(Lainey: he doesn’t photograph well. EVER. Here’s Cumby getting  parking ticket in London last week. He was at Carluccio’s - buffalo mozzarella!!! - reading through a script - maybe Star Trek? - and four parking wardens attacked his car.)

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