First Look: ‘Star Trek Into Darkness’

When: Opening Thursday

Cast: Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Benedict Cumberbatch

Director: J.J. Abrams

The story: The Enterprise returns to Earth, only to discover that Star Fleet is being attacked from within, in this second installment that spans from San Francisco to the Klingon Empire and introduces mysterious terrorist John Harrison (“Sherlock’s” Cumberbatch).

The buzz: With IMAX sneak peeks selling out way in advance — about 30 minutes of the sequel was shot with the large-format cameras — Paramount decided to move the release date up a day to take advantage of the early excitement. And to goose its box-office haul in advance of next weekend’s Memorial Day showdown between “The Hangover Part III” and “Fast & Furious 6.”

— CHRISTOPHER LAWRENCE