‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Casts Klingons Chris Obi, Shazad Latif, Mary Chieffo

Popular on Variety

Three new cast members are set to board “Star Trek: Discovery.”

Chris Obi, Shazad Latif, and Mary Chieffo have joined the upcoming CBS All Access series, with all three set to play Klingons — members of the fan-favorite alien race that is fundamental to “Star Trek” lore. Obi will play T’Kuvma, a Klingon leader seeking to unite the Klingon houses. Latif will play Kol, commanding officer of the Klingons and protégé of T’Kuvma. Chieffo will play L’Rell, the battle deck commander of the Klingon ship.

Obi, Latif, and Chiefo join the series on the heels of last month’s casting of Doug Jones, Anthony Rapp, and Michelle Yeoh — the first actors set for the new series from CBS Television Studios. The studio has yet to settle on a lead, but CBS is said to be eyeing an African-American or Latina actress for the role.

“Discovery” will be the first new series set in the “Star Trek” universe since “Enterprise,” which ended its four-season run on UPN in 2005. The series is currently set to premiere on CBS in May, with all subsequent episodes streaming exclusively in the U.S. on digital service CBS All Access. In October, after bumping the show from a scheduled February premiere, CBS confirmed that executive producer Bryan Fuller had stepped away from his role as showrunner, handing the reins to fellow EPs Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts, who were joined by Akiva Goldsman in a top creative role.