Showrunner Brian Fuller (Hannibal, American Gods) dropped a bit of new information on the upcoming Star Trek: Discovery series. Check out the full details provided by Entertainment Weekly (EW) at the Television Critics Association’s press tour in Beverly Hills on 8/12/16 here. One of the biggest plusses that came out of the talk was the discussion of creating a future more reflective of the diverse world we now live in with the casting of characters for the series.
Dr. Mae C Jemison: astronaut, Star Trek: The Next Generation actress, physician, college professor
As reported by EW.com, Fuller stated that the lead character in the series will be a female lieutenant commander with a “level of diversity”. He also explained that he consulted with astronaut and physician Dr. Mae C. Jemison, who is the first African-American woman to travel to space, when creating the aforementioned lead character.
Fuller explained: “It was interesting to send her (Dr. Jemison) outlines and start talking about the character and get her perspective on what it’s like for a woman in the sciences now when we still have a lot of issues with women and race, and how that’s going to be 250 years in the future when the world gets its s— together and equality is a thing that’s more accepted.”
Get ready to beam up in January 2017 as the 13 episode series will first premiere on the CBS network, and then make the jump for new episodes to appear on the CBS All Access streaming service.
Robert Jeffrey II is an award winning journalist whose work has appeared in such publications as UVC Magazine, JaDore Magazine, BlackSci-Fi.com, and The Atlanta Voice Newspaper. He is a regular contributor for the Tessera Guild, and his comic book work includes client work for the Centers for Disease Control, and Nitto Tires. His comic book writing includes work on such award winning/ nominated series as his creator owned series Route 3, Radio Free Amerika, Terminus Team-Up, and Soul of Suw. He’s yet to fulfill his dream of pop-locking to save a community center.
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