A star of The Walking Dead has been cast as the lead in the new CBS All Access series, according to EW. Sonequa Martin-Green, who plays Sasha Williams on The Walking Dead, will play a lieutenant commander on the Discovery, according to the report. The role of the lead is a departure, as all past Star Trek series have focused on the captain of the ship.
Martin-Green will continue to appear on The Walking Dead as well, according to the report.
Casting has been ongoing. Anthony Rapp will play Lt. Stamets, a gay astromycologist, and Doug Jones will play a science officer from a new alien species (see “’Star Trek: Discovery’ in Geek TV Round-Up”). Michelle Yeoh was cast in a recurring role as a starship captain (see “Michelle Yeoh Cast in ‘Star Trek: Discovery’”).