Before the events ofStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, how long was Khan Noonien Singh (Ricardo Montalban) stranded and simmering in his hatred of Captain James T. Kirk (William Shatner)? Directed by Nicholas Meyer,Star Trek IIis perhaps the most reveredStar Trekmovieamong fans. 1982’sStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khanis a sequel to theStar Trek: The Original Seriesepisode"Space Seed," which introduced the genetically engineered warlord who becameStar Trek’s greatest villain.
Star Trek: Khan,a new audio drama from Nicholas Meyer, writers Kirsten Beyer and David Mack, and director Fred Greenhalgh, will present the untold story of what happened to Khan, his wife Marla McGivers (Madlyn Rhue), and his followers after the events ofStar Trek: The Original Series. At the end of “Space Seed,“Captain Kirk and the USS Enterprise left Khan and his people on the planet Ceti Alpha V. Khan wouldn’t be seen again until years later inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan,after nearly two decades of catastrophe, loss, and bitterness.
How Long Captain Kirk Stranded Khan Until Star Trek II
Star Trek: The Original Series' “Space Seed” happened in 2267 andStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khantakes place in 2285. Therefore,18 years have passed since Captain Kirk stranded Khan on Ceti Alpha V. However, only 15 years passed in real-time sinceStar Trek: The Original Series' “Space Seed” aired on NBC in 1967 andStar Trek IIhit movie theaters in 1982. Regardless, Khan had ample time to simmer in his hatred of the man he would be incensed to discover became Admiral Kirk.
Star Trek II: The Wrath Of Khan’s Story Only Happens Because Starfleet Makes A Big Mistake
Khan Noonien Singh went on a rampage in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, but how did Starfleet make the mistake that released Khan anyway?
In the 18 years after the Starship Enterprise left Khan and his followers on Ceti Alpha V, neither Captain Kirk nor Starfleet returned to check on them. If Kirk had, he would have learned thatsix months after leaving Khan on Ceti Alpha V, the neighboring Ceti Alpha VI exploded, shifting V’s orbit. Originally a lush but wild world, Ceti Alpha V was turned into a barren, inhospitable wasteland where the only indigenous species to survive were thepoisonous Ceti eels.
Star Trek’s New Audio Drama Can Reveal More Of Why Kirk Hated Khan
Star Trek: Khan Will Tell The Story Of Ceti Alpha V
Originally announced in 2022,Star Trek: Khanwill finally tell the story of what happened during the nearly two decades afterCaptain Kirk and the USS Enterprisestranded Khan and his people on Ceti Alpha V. InStar Trek: Khan,Naveen Andrews (Lost) voices Khan, and Wrenn Schmidt (For All Mankind) plays Lt. Marla McGivers, the Starfleet Officer who became Khan’s beloved wife.
Presumably, the destruction of Ceti Alpha VI and the death of Marla McGivers because of the Ceti eels will be pivotal events inStar Trek: Khan.
An intriguing aspect ofStar Trek: Khan, however, will be the fracturing of Khan Noonien Singh’s psyche as he blames Captain Kirk for all he has suffered. After all, at the end ofStar Trek: The Original Series' “Space Seed,” Khan was amenable and even excited by the challenge of his own “world to tame.” Star Trek: Khanwill finally chronicle the tragedy that Khan blames Captain Kirk for inStar Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
