New ‘Star Trek’ series casts Anthony Rapp as openly gay officer

Rent star Anthony Rapp has signed onto the newest series in the Star Trek franchise as an openly gay Starfleet officer.

Rapp will play Lieutenant Stamets in Star Trek: Discovery, an astromycologist and the series’ first original LGBT character since John Cho’s version of Hikaru Sulu was revealed to be in a same-sex relationship in J. J. Abrams latest film.

Earlier this year, long-time Star Trek producer Brian Fuller told media that Trekkies hoping for more LGBTIQ representation would be happy with the Discovery series.

“We want to carry on what Star Trek does best, which is being progressive,” Fuller said.

“It’s fascinating to look at all of these role through a colorblind prism and a gender-blind prism.”

Joining Rapp on the cast will be Falling Skies’ Doug Jones, representing a new alien species, and Michelle Yeoh (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as Captain Georgiou of the starship Shenzhou. Broadcaster CBS has revealed the captain of the titular starship Discovery will also be female.

OIP Staff