CBS 'Star Trek Discovery' to feature female lead

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LOS ANGELES – “Star Trek Discovery” Executive producer Bryan Fuller divulged new details about the highly anticipated CBS TV series at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour.

He revealed the show will include a female, who will be a “lieutenant commander with caveats.”

“We're going to delve into something that was, for me, always very tantalizing and to tell that story through a character who is on a journey that is going to teach her how to get along with others in the galaxy," he said. "For her to truly understand something that is alien, she has to first understand herself.”

Fuller said execs are still searching for the perfect actress for the part.

“We haven’t cast her yet, and we don’t know what level of diversity she will be. The story that’s fascinating for me is that we’ve seen six series from captain’s point of view and to see one from another point of view gives us a richer context,” he said. “She’ll be a sensitive hero.”

Fuller also revealed the series will take place in the Prime Universe, 10 years before the start of Captain Kirk's five-year mission.

He said the series will “absolutely” have a gay character.

“'Star Trek' started with a wonderful expression of diversity in its cast. You had a Russian with a black woman and an Asian man amongst a Vulcan, which is a different kind of diversity,” he said. “We're absolutely continuing that tradition.”

Fuller said the original characters won’t be left out of the TV series.

“There’s so much about the history that once we get through this first season and establish our own ‘Star Trek’ universe with the crew… we’ll be looking in the second season to open up to more familiar characters and how they can feed into the [show],” he explained. “First and foremost, I think we really want to convince you and establish the greatness of the [new] characters that are going to be introduced.”

“Star Trek Discovery” premieres in January on CBS.