The Federation starship U.S.S. Discovery has finally found its first crewmember. Trekkies will be seeing "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" star Michelle Yeoh in a Starfleet uniform when "Star Trek: Discovery" airs next year because the Chinese-Malaysian actress is going to be boarding the ship.
Veteran "Star Trek" writer Nicholas Meyer spilled the beans when he told ComingSoon that he knows "Michelle Yeoh is in it." Meyer didn't say what role she is going to be playing, but the publication believes Yeoh may be portraying the show's lead character. They were looking for a female minority character to play the lieutenant commander of the ship, so she certainly fits the bill.
Inverse's Ryan Britt thinks that there is also a possibility that she may play the ship's captain if she is not portraying the lead character. After all, why cast a popular actress if they are not going to let her play a major role?
Daniel Cooper of Engadget has reported that there were rumors that the studio might be eyeing Angela Basset or Rosario Dawson for the lead role, but he said those two were probably busy with their Marvel projects right now.
Yeoh was at the Singapore International Film Festival on Wednesday and she acted coyly when she was asked about her casting.
"Well, I think CBS will make their own announcement. ... But we all grew up with the 'Star Trek' generation, so of course I'm a big fan," she stated.
As of this writing, CBS hasn't released a statement yet confirming Yeoh's casting, but after hearing her comments and Meyer's little tease, it's safe to say that she is definitely going to be in the show.
"Star Trek: Discovery" will premiere on the CBS Television Network in May 2017 before it moves to CBS All Access. Each episode will be released on Netflix a day after its premiere.
