Star Trek: Discovery has officially announced details on Sonequa Martin-Green‘s role in the new sci-fi series. The CBS All-Access original series began production this past January, but it wasn’t until Monday, April 3rd that they were forthcoming with the details as they made the announcement on their official Twitter page…
— Star Trek: Discovery (@startrekcbs) April 3, 2017
There you have it! The Walking Dead actress will star as First Officer Michael Burnham. To give the best possible comparison, William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) of Star Trek: The Next Generation was First Officer to Captain Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). He served as second in command and was in a leadership role with many responsibilities, some of which we might not have even been privy to.
Discovery, which takes place around 10 years prior to the original 5-year mission of Captain James Tiberius Kirk, is taking a different approach with the series. Martin-Green will be the lead actor in the show despite her not being a captain in Starfleet (a first for the series). Executive producer Bryan Fuller has stated in taking this approach, the series will give new perspective to life aboard a starship.
Originally slated for a May debut, the show has been pushed back a few months to late summer/early fall. If you missed earlier announcements, here’s a look at confirmed actors for Star Trek: Discovery:
The first reveal was of three cast members set to play Klingons on the new series: Chris Obi, Shazad Latif, and Mary Chieffo.
Chris will play T’Kuvma, the Klingon leader seeking to unite the Klingon houses.
Shazad will play Kol, the Commanding Officer of the Klingons and protégé of T’Kuvma.
Mary will play L’Rell, the Battle Deck Commander of the Klingon ship.
Acclaimed British actor James Frain has been cast as Sarek, the famed Vulcan father of Spock
Terry Serpico (Army Wives), Maulik Pancholy (30 Rock), and Sam Vartholomeos (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty).
Terry will play Admiral Anderson, a high-ranking official of Starfleet.
Maulik will play Dr. Nambue, the Chief Medical Officer of the Starship Shenzhou—the same ship helmed by Michelle Yeoh’s character, Captain Georgiou.
Sam will play Ensign Connor, a Junior Officer in Starfleet Academy assigned to the Starship Shenzhou.
Actor Jason Isaacs (The OA, Hotel Mumbai) has been cast as Captain Lorca and Mary Wiseman (Baskets) has joined the cast as Cadet Tilly, a Starfleet Academy Cadet in her final year of study.
First Look – Test Flight of Star Trek’s U.S.S. Discovery
Star Trek: Discovery In Production
About Star Trek: Discovery
Star Trek, one of the most iconic and influential global television franchises, returns 50 years after it first premiered, with STAR TREK: DISCOVERY. The series will feature a new ship, new characters and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers. The series will premiere on the CBS Television Network with all subsequent episodes available on CBS All Access.
