Star Trek Into Darkness is a 2013 American science fiction action film directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Roberto Orci, Alex Kurtzman and Damon Lindelof. It is the 12th installment in the Star Trek film franchise and sequel to the 2009 film Star Trek. The film features Chris Pine reprising his role as Captain James T. Kirk, with Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Karl Urban, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, Bruce Greenwood and Leonard Nimoy reprising their roles from the previous film. Benedict Cumberbatch, Peter Weller and Alice Eve are also credited in the film's principal cast. The film was the last time Nimoy would portray the character of Spock, and his final film appearance before his death in 2015.