is about to get beamed out of the top spot. Marvel's follow-up to will certainly live long and prosper with its nearly $1 billion box-office bounty, but this weekend is going to belong to Captain Kirk and Mr. Spock.

the sequel to director J.J. Abrams' 2009 reboot of the nearly 50-year-old sci-fi franchise, is expected to dominate the North American box-office as it warp speeds its way toward a $100 million four-day-plus kickoff. The movie, boasting a heavily guarded secret about its villain and the return of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto, opened exclusively in IMAX on Wednesday (making an estimated $3.3 million from 336 locations), followed by regular and 3-D showings on Thursday.

"Star Trek" should beat the $75 million domestic launch of its predecessor by at least $25 million. It's outperforming the first movie overseas as well, where it was released in seven markets a week earlier. "Into Darkness" carried a much larger production budget than Abrams' first foray into the "Trek" universe, with a larger marketing budget behind it as well.

Captain Kirk and crew will certainly steal much of the main demographic for "Iron Man 3," but Tony Stark's latest adventure should still be the runner-up with an expected $30 million domestic haul. While it won't make as much as "The Avengers" in the long run, "Iron Man 3" will certainly crack $1 billion worldwide and is far and away more successful than its predecessors.

With no other big new wide releases in theaters, last weekend's runner-up should fall just one spot to #3. ...

Kree Harrison isn't letting her loss to Candice Glover get her down. In fact, she's got some big plans for the future — plans that might even involve departing judge and "Idol" vet Randy Jackson.

"It was sad. We'll see each other. I know we will," the 22-year-old Texas native told MTV News after Thursday night's "Idol" season finale. "I love him and apparently we have a mutual friend, which I didn't even know until the other day. And, so I would love to work with him in the future. I adore him."

She added that her song, "All Cried Out," which she performed during the season, is a pretty good indicator of what's next for her. She explained, "I would want that to be my single, either way. I hope [to debut new music on the road]. Stay tuned."

The 40-date "Idol" tour will kick off in St. Louis at the end of June, and Harrison is looking forward to performing for the fans who helped her get all the way to the finale. "I get to travel the country and thank each and every one of them for voting for me and getting me this far," she said. "As many hugs as I can possible give, I will."

This year's "Idol" finale was characteristically action-packed and drama-filled. Before Candice was crowned the winner, there was one show-stopping performance after another, including a team-up between the two finalists to perform the 5th Dimension's "One Less Bell to Answer."

Before host Ryan Seacrest called out Candice's name, the two women stood together, ...

Mark Wahlberg has played a few slow-witted characters in his career, but in real life, he's no dummy. The acclaimed actor will soon have more than a booming Hollywood career to prove it. Years after dropping out of school, Wahlberg is set to receive his diploma.

Wahlberg, who recently visited T.C. Williams High School in Alexandria Virginia, is working toward receiving his diploma, even as he tries to teach kids not to make the same mistakes he did as a teenager.

"One of the big regrets in my life is that I didn't finish school," he told MTV News. "I quit when I was in the ninth grade... I didn't have too many people to look up to so the key for me to really make an impact was just to speak to them directly — tell them about my story."

Wahlberg visited T.C. Williams on April 24 to speak with students and remind them of the possibilities their life has to offer during their teenage years. Observing that many of his friends growing up ended up in jail or on drugs, he told attendees that it's essential for them to apply themselves to their work rather than distractions like drinking and partying.

"I just want to encourage you guys," Wahlberg insisted. "This is such a crucial time in your life. The decisions you make over the next few years are going to impact you forever."

Get Schooled With Mark Wahlberg.

The former rapper and current movie star pulled from his life experiences to give hope to the students and inspire good decision-making.

"You know, ...

"Star Trek Into Darkness" is out, and J.J. Abrams' mystery box is wide open. So what's inside? The answer made Trekkies squeal and groan in equal measure and confused many of the uninitiated, but now we're left to wonder what it all meant.

Spoilers on spoilers on spoilers ahead.

When the whole song and dance of rumors and denials was done, Benedict Cumberbatch ended up being Khan, as many, many people (including the MTV News team) had predicted and Abrams himself previously denied. The choice confused some fans, since John Harrison's true identity didn't affect the story in a significant way, and even more "Trek" novices had to rely word of Spock Prime (Leonardo Nemoy in another cameo) to believe that this guy wasn't to be messed with. So how did we get here? Let's take a trip back through a "Star Trek" wormhole.

Planting The Space Seed
The initial rumors that Khan might make an appearance in a sequel to 2009's "Star Trek" reboot came right from the source. Writer Roberto Orci, in an interview with Ain't It Cool News, openly said that "if you're a 'Trek' fan, there's no way Khan isn't at the top of the list of things you want to play with."

That first spark started an avalanche of questioning that continued right up until the release of "Star Trek Into Darkness." Just a few days after Orci's AICN interview, MTV News asked Abrams about the possibility of Khan in the sequel. "It'll be fun to hear what Alex and Bob are thinking ...

LOS ANGELES — Even though she was the odds-on favorite heading into Thursday night's (May 16) finale, Candice Glover still can't believe that she is the season 12

"I definitely can't believe that I'm even standing here," she told MTV News backstage, fresh from her onstage confetti shower. "I thought I was going home from top 10 to now. Every week, I was like, 'Bye, y'all, because I thought it would be me. We would practice our save-me songs, thinking we were going to get cut, and I'd never get cut!"

It turned out the third time was, in fact, the charm for the South Carolina 23-year-old, who auditioned in seasons 10 and 11 before finally cracking the top 20 this year. Those past failures only made her ride all the way to the "Idol" crown that much sweeter.

"I went through the first two years and getting eliminated and coming back," she recalled. "[I'd be] telling my parents, 'If I could just get to top 20, if I could just get to top 10, if I could just get my voice out there and get some voters and get a fanbase, then I'll be fine. I don't have to win.' And then I came and I won. I can't even tell you how I feel to say that. I don't know. I'm losing it."

Which 'American Idol' Finale Single Was The Best? Nicki And Keith Disagree!

And in record time, Glover's post-show album, Music Speaks, is already available for pre-order on iTunes and is expected to arrive July 16 ...

GULF SHORES, Alabama — If you've never been to a music festival on the beach, well, there's nothing like it. Sure, you'll see a handful of bikinis and flip flops at other fests, but at Alabama's Hangout Festival not only are those items ubiquitous, they're practically required uniforms. No shirt, no shoes, no problem ya'll!

The three-day blowout doesn't officialy begin until Friday, but Thursday's (May 16) warm-up was a great primer on how the weekend was going to go down. Between the twinkling Ferris wheel on the white sand beach, the terrifying Mega Drop ride and a nest of comfy hammocks set up as a seaside chill zone, Hangout is unlike any festival you've ever been to.

"It's my second year here and I love it," said Giovanni Vidana, 20, who hails from nearby Silver Hill, Alabama and came prepared with an oversized Camelbak, a spray bottle to wet down his fellow festival goers, gauzy white scarf and a portable GoPro camera strapped to his forehead. "You're down here on the beach, this becomes a different world, it's amazing ... I love this environment." He and his friend, Taylor Mcelroy, were psyched for sets over the weekend by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Kings of Leon, Kendrick Lamar, Slightly Stoopid, Ellie Goulding and Stevie Wonder.

Thursday's preview brought a mix of Hayes Carll's sweet honky tonkin' cover of Tom Waits' "I Don't Want to Grow Up" and the location-appropriate new tune, "One Bed, Two Girls and Three Bottles of Wine," mixed with the nighttime thunder of Dillon Francis, who got the crowd ...

found its Candy Girl, as Candice Glover was crowned the season 12 "American Idol" winner on Thursday's (May 16) "Idol" season finale.

"I can't even, oh my God," an emotional Glover said when the results were read. "Three years!" she said, referring to her initial "Idol" tryout in season nine.

The 23-year-old from St. Helena Island, South Carolina, became "Idol's" first female winner since Jordin Sparks in 2007. After being joined onstage by the rest of the season 10 finalists, a teary-eyed Glover delivered her new single "I Am Beautiful," singing the words "he says I am beautiful" with her head pointed to the sky as confetti rained down on the stage and on the audience. Glover's family, seated in the front row, celebrated her victory.

Kree Harrison, the 22-year-old country-soul singer from Woodville, Texas, was the evening's runner up. A final vote tally was not given, nor was a percentage breakdown of the votes.

The results came at the end of a performance-packed two hour show. Just prior to the announcement of the winner, Glover and Harrison teamed up for a duet of The 5th Dimension's "One Less Bell to Answer," which ended with the two embracing each other at center stage.

The show featured a number of collaborations, with the finalists joined by superstars and ex-"Idol" contestants. Glover and Jennifer Hudson teamed up on Natalie Cole's "Inseparable," and the pair scaled vocal skyscrapers together during the showstopping performance. Angie Miller sang with both Jessie J (the two did "Domino") and Adam Lambert (on "Titanium"), while The Band Perry ...

LOS ANGELES — When Phillip Phillips won last year, critics were skeptical whether he could have a successful career after a string of similar winners (Kris Allen, Lee DeWyze, David Cook) had failed to make much of an impact. Then came his coronation anthem, "Home," which soundtracked the 2012 Summer Olympics and became the best-selling "Idol" winning song ever.

So a lot is riding on the original songs that season 12 "American Idol" top two Candice Glover and Kree Harrison debuted Wednesday night. Could Glover's "I'm Beautiful" or Harrison's "All Cried Out" top Phillips' ubiquitous ode to domesticity?

At Thursday night's (May 16) "Idol" finale, we went straight to Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban to ask which diva has a hit under her belt — and, appropriately enough for this antagonistic season at the judges' table, they disagreed.

"I enjoy Candice's song a little bit better," Minaj admitted, before giving props to Harrison's tear-stained ballad. "But I know Kree's original song will be great for country radio."

Randy Jackson's 'Idol' Exit 'Bittersweet' For Ryan Seacrest.

Urban, however, had his fellow country singer's back, voting for "All Cried Out" as the song of the season.

"All due respect to Candice's song, the Kree one just hit me a little bit deeper emotionally. But both of them have great messages, so I applaud the songwriters of both of those songs and the fact that they really had substantive lyrics in both of them."

But Minaj and Urban don't have the real deciding vote in this contest: It's all about which song appeals ...