CBS Access’s new series Star Trek: Discovery has reportedly hired three actors for its cast.
The streaming service platform has allegedly confirmed that the show will be adding actress Michelle Yeoh. Doug Jones and Anthony Rapp have also been selected to be a part of the new series.
Last month, CBS claimed that one of their new characters on Star Trek: Discovery will be gay. This will be the first time in the decades-long franchise that a character was originally conceived to be an LGBTQ character.
Jones is set to portray Lt. Saru, who is a Starfleet Science Officer. The character will reportedly be a part of a new alien species in the Star Trek franchise.
Yeoh is set to portray Captain Georgiou, who will be the Starfleet Captain aboard Starship Shenzhou.
Rapp is set to play Lt. Stamets, who is an “astromycologist” fungus expert and Starfleet Officer. Stamets is also playing the series’ new gay character.
In Star Trek Beyond, icon Lt. Sulu was revealed to be gay in the Paramount Pictures film. The decision for Sulu’s character to be gay was reportedly controversial for the movie.
George Takei, who initially played Sulu, commented this past summer of his dislike of the change in traits of the original Star Trek character. Allegedly he claimed Gene Roddenberry’s original characters and backgrounds should be respected by fellow filmmakers.
Gene Roddenberry was the original creator of the Star Trek series that debuted in 1966 on NBC.
Takei did, however, state that he would rather have a new hero created to be gay and/or represent the LGBTQ community.
Adding a new LGBTQ character was important to Star Trek: Discovery’s executive producer, Bryan Fuller. Last August, Fuller announced that the new Star Trek series will “absolutely” include a gay character.
CBS Access has yet to cast their lead female actress or any other permanent series regular characters.
Star Trek: Discovery is set to stream on CBS Access around May 2017.
