Before the events of Star Trek: The Original Series episode "Space Seed," which introduced the genetically engineered warlord who became Star Trek's greatest villain.

Star 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

Khan Had Almost Two Decades To Hate Kirk

Star Trek: The Original Series' "Space Seed" happened in 2267 and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan takes place in 2285. Therefore, 18 years have ed since Captain Kirk stranded Khan on Ceti Alpha V. However, only 15 years ed in real-time since Star Trek: The Original Series' "Space Seed" aired on NBC in 1967 and Star Trek II hit movie theaters in 1982. Regardless, Khan had ample time to simmer in his hatred of the man he would be incensed to discover became iral Kirk.

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 that six 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 the poisonous 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: Khan will finally tell the story of what happened during the nearly two decades after Captain Kirk and the USS Enterprise stranded Khan and his people on Ceti Alpha V. In Star 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 in Star Trek: Khan.

An intriguing aspect of Star 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 of Star Trek: The Original Series' "Space Seed," Khan was amenable and even excited by the challenge of his own "world to tame." Star Trek: Khan will finally chronicle the tragedy that Khan blames Captain Kirk for in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.

Source: StarTrek.com