Star Trek: Discovery Casts Walking Dead Actress in Lead Role

The latest Star Trek series has found its star. Sonequa Martin-Green, best known to audiences for her work as Sasha on The Walking Dead, has been cast in the lead role on CBS’ Star Trek: Discovery. Martin-Green will play a lieutenant commander on the Discovery.

Per Entertainment Weekly, Martin-Green’s casting will have no impact on her work on The Walking Dead, where she has been a regular since season three. Martin-Green will be the first African-American woman to lead a Trek property. The new series will also feature Star Trek’s first openly gay character, played by Anthony Rapp. Martin-Green’s character is also unique in that she’s the first Star Trek protagonist who is not a captain.

The show, which is set to debut in May on CBS’ streaming platform CBS All Access, now has its most crucial character cast. The series will also star Michelle Yeoh, Doug Jones (Hellboy), Chris Obi (Roots), Shazad Latif (Penny Dreadful) and Mary Chieffo.