Good news for one franchise might be grim for another, as CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery has found its lead on The Walking Dead. Sonequa Martin-Green will beam up as the central character of CBS’ new Trek venture, the first in the franchise to be led by an African-American woman.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Martin-Green will play the lead role of a young Lieutenant Commander on the U.S.S. Discovery, whose perspective breaks from tradition by not centering a series around a Federation Captain. The series also recently cast three Klingon roles, confirming their strong presence in the first season.

Previously, Star Trek: Discovery confirmed among the cast Doug Jones as an alien science officer, Adam Rapp as the TV franchise’s first openly-gay character and Michelle Yeoh as Captain of a different ship. Ex-showrunner Bryan Fuller also recently stepped up to clarify his limited involvement in the project going forward.

Shooting in Toronto, the new 13-episode Star Trek: Discovery is officially said to take place 10 years before Kirk’s original Enterprise mission, as well to be “heavily serialized,” akin to a novel, more-so than episodic. The new series will also feature a Klingon captain and a British doctor, and explore the fallout of an event referenced, but never seen in the original series.

Wrath of Khan director Nicholas Meyer has also joined alongside Gene Roddenberry’s son Rod, fan-favorite Voyager novel alum Kirsten Beyer, franchise vet Joe Menosky and Heroes writer Aron Coleite. So reads the initial synopsis for the series, which debuts on CBS in May 2017 before moving to All-Access:

The brand-new “Star Trek” will introduce new characters seeking imaginative new worlds and new civilizations, while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966.

Additional castings will emerge within the next few weeks, but what do we make of the Star Trek: Discovery lead? Are Sasha’s Walking Dead days numbered?

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