Star Trek: Discovery producer and franchise heavy Nicholas Meyer unexpectedly let slip that Michelle Yeoh might be boarding the title ship, but trades are finally confirming. Yeoh won’t lead Star Trek: Discovery itself, but nonetheless play a major role with a separate vessel.

Where initial reports suggested the Crouching Tiger star might play the central Lieutenant Commander character, Deadline clarifies and confirms that Yeoh will play Captain Han Bo of the Shenzhou, said to “play a big role in Discovery’s first season.” Casting is still underway for the series’ lead, envisioned as a younger female role.

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 non-captain female lead, with 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 details will hopefully emerge within the next few weeks, but what do we make of the first official Star Trek: Discovery casting?

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