Any sci-fi fan worth their salt will tell you that The Expanse, Syfy’s bold new space opera, has emerged as one of this season’s best new series. Set in a distant future where humanity has expanded – and indeed colonized – the far reaches of space, it’s a wonderful and accomplished genre piece. However, actress Shohreh Aghdashloo will soon be swapping the Rocinante for the USS Enterprise.
That’s according to Deadline, confirming that the Emmy-winning actress has joined the ensemble cast for Justin Lin’s Star Trek Beyond. Also known for her roles across House Of Sand And Fog and House Of Saddam, the outlet notes that Aghdashloo has been welcomed aboard as High Command of the Federation, with Paramount’s blockbuster threequel due to stage reshoots at some point next week. Don’t fret, though; Star Trek Beyond is still on course to hit theaters this July.
In the absence of series stalwart Roberto Orci, Scotty himself Simon Pegg has stepped up to the plate in order to rework the script alongside Doug Jung. Sources close to Paramount suggest that Orci’s original script has been tossed, lending Pegg and Jung a blank canvas with which to operate. Director Justin Lin also has a hand in guiding the threequel’s story from page to screen while J.J. Abrams, despite departing to a certain galaxy far, far away, remains attached as producer.
Star Trek Beyond makes a dash for theaters on July 22, 2016. Zachary Quinto, Simon Pegg, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin and Idris Elba also star. As for The Expanse, Syfy’s sci-fi series – how’s that for a tongue-twister? – is primed to begin production on a second season in Toronto next month.
