Walking Dead star Sonequa Martin-Green cast as new Star Trek lead

The Walking Dead star Sonequa Martin-Green has reportedly landed the lead role in the new Star Trek TV series.

She plays survivor Sasha Williams in the post-apocalyptic TV series, which is currently on its seventh season.

But the Star Trek role could mean Sasha's time on the show will come to an end.

And when it's a show about flesh-eating zombies, those ends don't tend to be particularly pleasant.

US publication Entertainment Weekly has reported the news, but Sonequa and CBS Television Studios (who are making Star Trek: Discovery) are yet to comment.

If confirmed, she will be the first African-American female to be the main character in a Star Trek TV series.

She is believed to be playing a lieutenant commander on the show, which will make this the first time a Star Trek show hasn't focused on a starship captain.

Sonequa (right) is one of the lead cast members of The Walking Dead

Sonequa's character in the show hasn't been named but several other key roles have already been cast and announced.

The show will star Malaysia-born actress Michelle Yeoh in the role of Captain Georgiou and Doug Jones as Lieutenant Saru, an alien character.

Star Trek: Discovery will also include the series' first openly gay character, a fellow lieutenant played by Anthony Rapp.

Producer Bryan Fuller has previously promised to maintain Star Trek's long-running history of diverse casting.

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