While there will always be a vocal minority filled with trolls and haters who balk at the idea of diversity in Hollywood, it’s quite clear that the industry is placing a focus on inclusion and acceptance, whether it be in movies, on the small screen, or even in video games. While Gene Roddenberry’s enduring sci-fi franchise has always been at the forefront of change – the famous kiss between Kirk and Uhura is proof enough– it looks like Star Trek: Discovery is looking to round out its cast of diverse characters.
As reported by Discussing Film, it seems CBS is searching for a non-binary character for the show’s upcoming third season. There aren’t many details to go off of, but it sounds like this individual will be named AIDRA (we’re not sure if the all caps is a typo, or deliberate), and is said to be very intelligent and self-confident.
Apparently, CBS is looking for someone over the age of 18 to play a 16-year-old. It’s worth noting that Discussing Film seems to have gotten their information from an inside source, and as a result, this news should be taken with a grain of salt for the time being.
While the concept might seem foreign to some, Star Trek has tackled gender neutrality in the past. In The Next Generation‘s opening seasons, characters often wore unisex outfits, with some male Starfleet personnel opting for a shorter, almost skirt-like uniform. The Bynar race of humanoids, for instance, were genderless, and in the Season 5 episode “The Outcast,” the crew of the Enterprise was contacted by an androgynous race called the J’naii. It’s not entirely clear if Star Trek: Discovery‘s non-binary character will be human or not, but we’ll keep you updated as soon as we learn more.