Star Trek: Discovery - First Look Trailer

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CBS is going all-in on Star Trek. At the network’s Upfront today, it announced that it has expanded its order for its CBS All Access series Star Trek: Discovery up to 15 episodes and ordered a post-show series called Talking Trek. Oh, and they also released a trailer — which focuses on First Officer Michael Burnham (The Walking Dead’s Sonequa Martin-Green) and Captain Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh), who start off on a desert plain and later get into a confrontation with some very expensive-looking aliens. Star Trek: Discovery will premiere this fall. -Vulture

‘Walking Dead’ Star Lands ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Lead

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“The Walking Dead” actress Sonequa Martin-Green has landed the lead role on CBS All Access’ “Star Trek: Discovery.”

Sources confirmed to Variety that the actress will continue as a series regular on the AMC zombie drama while tackling the lead role on CBS’ relaunch of the science-fiction television franchise.

The casting of Martin-Green brings to a close a lengthy search for a lead on “Discovery,” which has struggled with delays since being given a greenlight by CBS last year. Original showrunner Bryan Fuller had at Comic-Con this summer indicated that he wanted to cast a woman of color in the lead role, citing inspiration from Mae Jamison, the first African-American female astronaut and Nichelle Nichols, the lone African-American and lone female cast member on the original “Star Trek” series. In August, speaking at the Television Critics Association press tour, Fuller confirmed that the lead character would be a woman and that she would not hold the rank of captain, as “Star Trek” leads traditionally have.

Fuller exited the showrunner role in October, after CBS was forced to push back the series premiere from February to May, and was replaced by fellow executive producers Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts. The casting search continued to drag on, with CBS Television Studios, which is producing the series, focusing its efforts on casting an African-American or Latino actress.

Martin-Green’s character will hold the rank of lieutenant-commander, though the character’s name is still unknown. The actress has played Sasha Williams on “The Walking Dead” since the show’s third season. 

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/walking-dead-star-lands-star-trek-discovery-lead-1201942648/

Image and text from Variety

‘Star Trek: Discovery’ CBS Series to Have Female Lead

Image from Variety

CBS’ “Star Trek: Discover” will feature a female lead, Variety has confirmed. Executive producer Bryan Fuller is expected to discuss the role Wednesday at the Television Critics Association summer press tour.

CBS Television Studios, which is producing the series, is in the process of casting the role, which could potentially go to a woman of color. During a Q&A last month at Comic Con, Fuller spoke about Mae Jamison, the first African-American female astronaut and Nichelle Nichols, the lone African American and lone female cast member on the original “Star Trek” series, as inspirations for the characters on his show. “I think that ‘Star Trek’ is a show of firsts,” he said at the time.

Avery Brooks as Capt. Benjamin Sisko on “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine” was the first African American to lead a “Star Trek” series. Kate Mulgrew as Capt. Kathryn Janeway on “Star Trek: Voyager” was the franchise’s first female lead. The female lead on “Discovery” will not necessarily be a captain.

Shooting on “Star Trek: Discovery” is set to begin in two months, with David Semel set to direct the premiere. The series is scheduled to premiere in January with the first episode debuting on the core CBS broadcast network and subsequent episodes available exclusively on subscription streaming service CBS All Access.

http://variety.com/2016/tv/news/star-trek-discovery-cbs-female-lead-1201834966/

Image and text from Variety