David Farnor | On 21, Sep 2017

The titles of the first four episodes of Star Trek: Discovery have been revealed.

The long-awaited new entry in the long-running sci-fi series arrives 50 years after the show first premiered, and a lot has changed since then. We’ve got a new ship, a new crew, two diverse, female leads (Michelle Yeoh’s Captain Philippa Georgiou and Sonequa Martin-Green’s First Officer Michael Burnham), and also a whole world of internet speculation to go with them.

Feeding into that, Star Trek: Discovery’s official Twitter account has dropped the names of the new show’s opening four chapters, just to whet the appetite for fans. The first, The Vulcan Hello, makes it clear that the show will be steeped in Star Trek lore: Burnham, as the show revealed at Comic-Con, was a human raised by a Vulcan father – Sarek, the father of Spock.

Episode 2, Battle at the Binary Stars, appears to tease the war that starts between the Klingons and the Federation, although we don’t know the cause of it. Context Is for Kings and The Butcher’s Knife Cares Not for the Lamb’s Cries follow, setting a more ominous tone for the show moving forwards.

What do they all mean? The good news is we’ll soon find out, as Episodes 1 and 2 premiere as a double-bill on Monday 25th September on Netflix UK, with new episodes then arriving weekly on Mondays, within 24 hours of their US debut on CBS All Access.

Until then, set your phasers to “nostalgia”, as we continue our #BackTrek look back at the preview Star Trek series.

Almost there. The first four episode titles of #StarTrekDiscovery have been revealed. pic.twitter.com/FcxKqkwmTF

— Star Trek: Discovery (@StarTrekNetflix) September 19, 2017

 

 

New images beam in from Star Trek: Discovery

27th July 2017

The arrival of Star Trek: Discovery is getting closer – and Netflix has just beamed down from new images straight from the bridge.

The 15-episode series will follow the voyages of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new lifeforms, and one Starfleet officer who must learn that to truly understand all things alien, you must first understand yourself.

The show will feature a new ship, new characters and new missions, while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers.

The new images give us a closer look at Michelle Yeoh’s Captain Philippa Georgiou and Sonequa Martin-Green’s First Officer Michael Burnham, the two leads from the show – a reminder of both the series’ impressive visuals and exciting embrace of diversity in its casting.

They follow news from Comic-Con about the fact that Discovery will feature Star Trek’s first LGBTQ relationship, as well some intriguing new details about Michael Burnham’s backstory. You can catch up with that news here, along with a new trailer.

The return of the famed franchise will premiere 25th September on Netflix everywhere except the US and Canada, where it will be available on CBS All Access, and Bell Media respectively, following a broadcast premiere on the CBS Television Network.

 

First look image: Jason Isaacs in Star Trek: Discovery

22nd June 2017

First came a picture of the cast, then came a trailer. Now, thanks to EW, we have our first look at what Jason Isaacs will look like in Star Trek: Discovery.

CBS’ sci-fi series said hello to Jason Isaacs earlier this year, casting the actor in the key role of Captain Gabriel Lorca. Lorca will take the helm of the titular USS Discovery, marking a reunion of sorts between him and Netflix, which has the exclusive rights to the show in the UK, after his starring role in The OA.

While Isaacs is an important player in the franchise’s latest instalment, though, he will not be the main character – for the first time, it will not be a Starfleet Academy captain at the centre of the programme, with The Walking Dead’s Sonequa Martin-Green instead taking the lead role of First Officer Michael Burnham, serving underneath Lorca on the Discovery.

Speaking of which, we also get a closer glimpse of what the bridge of the new starship will look like. While the show is set 10 years before the original show, introducing us to a new time period as well as new characters and missions, CBS says that the show will embrace “the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers”.

The first season of Star Trek: Discovery will span 15 episodes, with a UK release date of Monday 25th September for the first two episodes. Episodes will then arrive on Netflix weekly on Mondays, within hours of their US broadcast.

Head this way to watch the trailer for the show.

 

Star Trek Discovery beams aboard new cast members

1st May 2017

Penny Dreadful, Battlestar Galactica and Suits. Star Trek: Discovery’s cast keeps on growing – and keeps becoming even more diverse, as the USS starship beams aboard crew members from all over the TV universe.

The CBS series, which will premiere on Netflix in the UK, is the latest entry in the long-running sci-fi franchise and is one of the most anticipated shows of the year. Taking place around 10 years before the original series, stars The Walking Dead’s Sonequa Martin-Green as First Officer Michael Burnham, who serves on the Discovery underneath Jason Isaacs’ Captain Lorca.

Now, five more faces have officially signed up to join the team. Shazad Latif, most recently seen in Penny Dreadful, will play Lieutenant Tyler, a Starfleet officer in the Federation, while Rekha Sharma (Battlestar Galactica) will play Commander Landry, the security officer of the Starship Discovery.

Off the ship, Kenneth Mitchell (Jericho) will play Kol, a commanding officer in the Klingon Empire, with Clare McConnell and Damon Runyan (Suits) as as Dennas and Ujilli, other Klingon leaders.

Other supporting cast members include Michelle Yeoh as captain of another ship, the Shenzhou, plus James Frain as Spock’s father, Sarek, Rainn Wilson as familiar name Harry Mudd, and Doug Jones as Lieutenant Saru, a Science Officer on the Discovery and a new alien species.

 

Sonequa Martin-Green confirmed for Star Trek: Discovery

3rd April 2017

After everyone talking about her casting for what feels like forever, Sonequa Martin-Green has been officially confirmed as beaming aboard Star Trek: Discovery.

The actress, who is known as Sasha to The Walking Dead fans, will play First Officer Michael Burnham, serving underneath Jason Isaacs’ captain on the USS Discovery.

A big ?? to @SonequaMG, joining #StarTrekDiscovery as First Officer Michael Burnham. pic.twitter.com/17vwMYwPSp

— Netflix UK & Ireland (@NetflixUK) April 3, 2017

 

Rainn Wilson to play Harry Mudd in Star Trek Discovery

2nd April 2017

Rainn Wilson has boarded Star Trek Discovery – and he’ll be playing a familiar face to Trek fans.

The actor, who won his own horde of fans with his scene-stealing turn in the US remake of The Office, will play Harry Mudd. An intergalactic con man, he’s crossed paths with the Enterprise crew many times in previous series (including the show’s animated incarnation), with Roger C. Carmel originally playing the part. CBS announced on social media that Wilson will now be stepping into Mudd’s shoes, although the broadcaster has not yet confirmed how many episodes he’ll be in.

CASTING NEWS: #StarTrekDiscovery adds @rainnwilson to its roster as Harry Mudd, first seen in the original television series! pic.twitter.com/4Ov9DrFVM3

— Star Trek: Discovery (@startrekcbs) March 31, 2017

Wilson joins an an impressive crew already on board the series, which includes The Walking Dead’s Sonequa Martin-Green as the lead Lieutenant Commander of the Discovery, Jason Isaacs as its Captain and Michelle Yeoh as the captain of Starship Shenzhou.

The show is created by CBS as an exclusive for its streaming platform CBS All-Access in the USA. In the UK, and elsewhere, it will premiere on Netflix.

 

Star Trek Discovery says hello to Jason Isaacs

7th March 2017

Star Trek Discovery has said hello to Jason Isaacs, casting the actor as the captain of the eponymous starship.

The CBS series, which will premiere on Netflix in the UK, is the latest entry in the long-running sci-fi franchise and is one of the most anticipated shows of the year. Taking place around 10 years before the original series, the show has been assembling its cast for several months, following multiple delays to production. Now, it has taken a big step forward with arguably its highest profile addition to date.

Isaacs will play Captain Lorca, head of the Starship Discovery. While he joins a long line of Starship captains to grace our screens over the years, though, he will not be the main character of the show: it will follow the ship’s lieutenant commander, who is played by The Walking Dead’s Sonequa Martin-Green.

Nice chair. Hope it's comfy. pic.twitter.com/xwfdWAmBQW

— Jason Isaacs (@jasonsfolly) March 7, 2017

Isaacs’ casting was announced today by CBS, alongside Mary Wiseman, who will play Tilly, a cadet from the Starfleet Academy assigned to Lorca’s crew.

They join an ensemble that includes James Frain as Spock’s father, Anthony Rapp as fungus expert Science Officer Lieutenant Stamets, Terry Serpico as Admiral Anderson and, most notably, Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as the captain of another ship, Starship Shenzhou. The Shenzhou’s crew includes Maulik Pancholy as Chief Medical Officer Dr. Nambue and Sam Vartholomeos as Ensign Connor, a junior officer assigned to the ship.

Star Trek: Discovery was originally meant to premiere on CBS’ streaming service, CBS All Access, at the start of 2017, but it has since been pushed back to either summer or autumn. Meanwhile, the CBS streaming platform launched with its spin-off from The Good Wife, called The Good Fight, which will air in the UK on More4. The casting of Isaacs, though, will reassure fans that things are on the right track. It marks something of a reunion for the actor and Netflix, with Isaacs recently starring in the streaming giant’s fantastical drama, The OA. You can read about that here.

A captain & a cadet are added to the #StarTrekDiscovery cast. Welcome @jasonsfolly and @may_wise to #StarTrek pic.twitter.com/rhDMUjxBnP

— Star Trek (@StarTrek) March 7, 2017

 

Star Trek Discovery signs up three new cast members

15th February 2017

Three new cast members have beamed on board Star Trek Discovery.

CBS’ reboot, which will premiere as an exclusive on its streaming service, CBS All Access in the US, has been subject to multiple delays since it was first announced. Nonetheless, production on the programme continues, with three new names now joining the growing ensemble.

Terry Serpico, Maulik Pancholy and Sam Vartholomeos are the latest crew members for the Discovery.

Serpico will play Starfleet Admiral Anderson. Pancholy will play Dr. Nambue, the chief medical officer of Starship Shenzhou. Vartholomeos, on the other hand, will play a junior officer, Ensign Connor, who is assigned to the Shenzhou.

The three actors are no strangers to TV audiences, with Serpico recently co-starring in Amazon’s Sneaky Pete, Pancholy known for his work on 30 Rock, and Vartholomeos previously appearing on The Following.

They join an impressive cast that already includes Doug Jones, Michelle Yeoh, Sonequa Martin-Green, Anthony Rapp, James Frain, Chris Obi, Shazad Latif and Mary Chieffo.

There is still no confirmed release date, although we do know that the show will air on Netflix in the UK.

 

Doug Jones and Anthony Rapp board Star Trek: Discovery

30th November 2016

Star Trek is beginning to fill its new starship with an all-new crew, with two new roles now cast.

Michelle Yeoh was first reported last week to have joined CBS’ new incarnation of the classic sci-fi franchise, although there was no official announcement. Now, CBS has confirmed that she has beamed aboard to play Captain Georgiou, leader of the Starship Shenzhou.

That means she’s not the female lead of the show, who will be a Lieutenant aboard the series’ main ship, Discovery. The Lieutenant’s role remains uncast, but CBS has found two of her crew members.

Hellboy’s Doug Jones will play Lieutenant Saru, a Science Officer on the Discovery and a new alien species not seen before in Trek. Alongside him will be Anthony Rapp as fellow Science Officer Lieutenant Stamets, an “astromycologist” and a fungus expert. He will be gay, marking the first time that a gay character will be included in Star Trek on the small screen. Indeed, Sulu was revealed to have a boyfriend in feature film Star Trek Beyond, a move that was welcomed by many but proved controversial to some fans.

The show flies onto our screens in May 2017, premiering exclusively on CBS’ streaming service, CBS Access, in the US, and on Netflix in the UK and other countries.

 

Michelle Yeoh cast in Star Trek: Discovery

24th November 2016
Michelle Yeoh has been cast in CBS and Netflix’s Star Trek: Discovery.

The reboot of the iconic sci-fi franchise is one of the most anticipated shows of the coming year, but so far, details have been kept closely under wraps.

So far, we know that events will take place around 10 years before the original series, with the lead character set to be a female lieutenant commander on the titular Federation starship. Co-creator Bryan Fuller has previously highlighted the production’s focus on diversity, with the show also set to star at least one gay character (as one of the male leads). Sources have told The Hollywood Reporter that the ensemble will also feature a female admiral, a male Klingon captain, a male admiral, a male adviser and a British male doctor.

Since Fuller’s announcement of those details, he has since stepped down as the showrunner due to other commitments, with Gretchen J. Berg and Aaron Harberts taking over duties, while Fuller remains on as an exec producer. The show’s release date, meanwhile, has been pushed back from January 2017 to May 2017. Nonetheless, production is moving forward, as Yeoh’s reported casting demonstrates.

Nicholas Meyer, consulting producer on the programme, told Coming Soon that Yeoh had signed up for the series in an interview. CBS has not yet officially confirmed the casting, but sources have now confirmed the news to multiple publications, including THR and Deadline.

However, Yeoh does not look set to be the lead female of the show: according to Deadline, she will play Han Bo, a Starfleet Captain of another ship: the Shenzhou, which will play “a big role in Discovery‘s first season”.

Yeoh’s casting highlights the global appeal that CBS is targeting with its show: the series will be released exclusively on CBS’ streaming service, CBS All-Access, in the US, but will be distributed on Netflix worldwide outside of North America. That also means it’s something of a reunion between Yeoh and Netflix, after she recently reprised her role of Shu Lien in the streaming giant’s Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon sequel. She also has a recurring role in Season 2 of Netflix’s Marco Polo.

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