'Star Trek: Discovery' casts Michelle Yeoh to play captain

Actress Michelle Yeoh has become the first actor to come on board for the highly anticipated Star Trek: Discovery series.

Yeoh will play a ship's captain in a recurring role, but reportedly not the show's female lead who is lieutenant on a starship called the Discovery, reported Deadline.

The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actress will actually play a character named Han Bo and will be the leader of another ship named the Shenzhou. She will have a significant role in the show's first season.

The new show will be set at least a decade before the original series, which followed the exploits of Captain Kirk.

Star Trek: Discovery's former showrunner Bryan Fuller has previously said he wanted to cast a woman of color as the lead lieutenant character.