"Star Trek: Discovery" executive producer and showrunner Bryan Fuller have always said that the TV reboot is going to feature a diversified cast. Now it has been confirmed during Fuller's time at the Television Critics Association panel that the show is going to get a female lead. It's also been hinted that the new "Star Trek" will have an openly gay character.
Parent Herald previously got wind of the plan to have "Star Trek: Discovery" cast a female ship captain. However, Fuller has confirmed that the female lead will actually be a "lieutenant commander with caveats," as per Entertainment Weekly. Further reports indicate that she will also potentially be a woman of color, per Deadline.
Fuller also said that the decision to have this character being the center of the series is a matter of showing a new perspective among the starship crew. The idea is to give a fresh take on themes that might have already been seen other "Star Trek" productions, but have yet to be fully exhausted. He also confirmed that there will be a gay character on "Star Trek: Discovery." Although the show might be barraged with hate mails for this decision, Fuller defends, "We've come a long way since then."
'Star Trek: Discovery' to have female lead, will take place in Prime Universe https://t.co/IXoqWyXCSB pic.twitter.com/zVD9nEj1dd
— HitFix (@HitFix) August 11, 2016
Casting will soon be underway for "Star Trek: Discovery," as filming is scheduled to start in two months, according to Variety. The show is going to have at least seven lead stars, including the female character. There will also be aliens and robots, as expected.
"Star Trek: Discovery" is going to follow the prime universe timeline, which is also known as the original timeline. It is different from the timeline that the movies starring Chris Pine have followed. Even as the show hasn't even started, the producers already have hatched plans for "Star Trek: Discovery" Season 2 in that they want to bring familiar characters back, if possible.
"Star Trek: Discovery" is going to air on CBS All Access, the online platform for CBS network, in January 2017. The episodes will also be streaming on Netflix in countries outside the United States.
