Back in July, we brought you the news about Paramount Pictures shifting the release date for the as yet Untitled Star Trek Sequel to “sometime” in the fourth quarter of 2012 or summer of 2013. Then in September we brought you the very good news that director J.J. Abrams (Super 8) was officially on board to direct the forthcoming sequel.

Now, Variety reports that Abrams is expected to offer the mysterious villain role to actor Benicio Del Toro (Savages). The actor has reportedly met with Abrams already but, in an effort to keep the role a secret, still doesn’t know exactly what it is. In addition to del Toro’s possible casting, Alex Kurtzman, Roberto Orci and Damon Lindelof have returned to pen the script for the sequel.

The Untitled Star Trek Sequel is slated to hit theaters in 2012.