Crave Online posted a interview with Star Trek: Into Darkness director J.J. Abrams, here is the excerpt:

CO: The image of the hands touching with a pane of glass in between, was that an intentional callback to Wrath of Khan?
J.J. Abrams: Well, I would say that you’ve got to see the movie to see. I don’t want to give away what that is, but we’ve all seen Wrath of Khan. With one or two exceptions, we’re not idiots. We are aware of the movie. I love Wrath of Khan.

CO: With so many characters, was it easier to figure out what everyone would do in the new story?
J.J. Abrams: Yes and no. Honestly, it’s never easier the next time, ever, for anything. You always think, “Oh, I’ve done that, it’ll be easier the next time.” No, it’s harder the next time. But it’s important that every character need to be in the story, otherwise they shouldn’t be. But I wouldn’t say it was easier.

CO: You didn’t have to bring Bruce Greenwood back. Was that a fun character to have the mentor figure?
J.J. Abrams: Yeah, I think he’s a very important character and I think we sort of did have to bring him back. He’s a critical character in the first film and he again is an amazing guy, great actor. The character is an important component for the film so we were thrilled to bring him back.

CO: Star Trek appealed to the original fan base but also broadened the appeal. Do you feel the next one will continue to?
J.J. Abrams: Well, everyone when they see the movie will figure out what it is that appeals to them or not. I won’t give anything away. The idea is to make a movie not for Star Trek fans but for movie fans, and if you’re a Star Trek fan, hopefully you’ll love it, the story works.
And if you don’t care about Star Trek at all, it doesn’t matter, I don’t want to do a movie that you have to have studied the last film or anything before it to understand. But if you do know Star Trek there are references that’ll make you either nod or smile or connect with you. We definitely made it for a broader audience, but simultaneously aware and grateful for those people who really allowed this movie to get made at all, the fans of the first one.

CO: Fans originally thought Benedict Cumberbatch would be playing Khan.  Now that we know he’s playing John Harrison, were you thinking at the time, “Don’t worry, guys, I’ve got this.  We’re not going to do what you think?”
J.J. Abrams: I just can’t wait for people to see the movie.  Benedict is unbelievable. It’s a tall order, coming into that movie, because the crew of the Enterprise, that cast is so damn good and they’re wonderful to work with and they’re all good hearts.
So, to come into that group, as he did, as Alice Eve did and as Peter Weller did, and be one of the family was something that I was doubtful could happen. And he completely did it. I not only love him in the movie, but I love him, as a human being. He’s an amazing guy. I can’t wait for people to see the movie and experience what he’s done.

CO: Have you given any thought to Star Trek III?
J.J. Abrams: No, sir, not yet. I’m sure that the studio would love that to be a possibility but it’s up to the audience to decide if there needs to be one.

CO: Are there stories out there?
J.J. Abrams: Oh yeah, there are things we’ve talked about but there’s no script or anything, it’s just ideas.

TN THOUGHTS:

As said by the “famous” director, this movie, as the previous was, is NOT FOR THE FANS, its for the 16-45 audience that will pay a fee to get to see a blockbuster in space. Well, we wont!