CBS All Access may not be the most popular streaming service out there, but because parent company CBS owns the Star Trek franchise and more, it doesn't need to be. The powers that be fully understand that, and they're continuing to find new ways to expand upon its flagship series Star Trek Discovery. The latest update? A spinoff series is in the works focusing on Michelle Yeoh's shock-centered character Captain Philippa Georgiou.
Details on the project are still mostly unconfirmed, and Michelle Yeoh is reportedly just "in talks" to reprise the character for a completely different series. It has, however, already been confirmed that Yeoh's Terran Emperor (Philippa Georgiou's Mirror Universe iteration) will be back for Star Trek Discovery Season 2. According to Deadline, the spinoff project would reportedly be centered on the character's experiences working within Starfleet's Section 31.
The autonomous black-ops division of Starfleet would be a stellar hook for a new show, especially with Michelle Yeoh leading the charge. Star Trek Discovery went heavy on its Klingon war games tactics across two different dimensions, and Season 2 is only going to ramp up the space-faring chaos. As such, fans would probably be excited to get a follow-up series with a totally new set-up and slightly different genre elements.
This decision is both surprising and understandable. When Star Trek Discovery was in development, fans thought Michelle Yeoh's casting meant that Captain Philippa Georgio would be a major part of the story at least throughout the initial season. But the character was shockingly killed off early on. Thankfully, the actress returned with a deliciously evil bent once the Mirror Universe came into play.
Yeoh's performances were winning enough to make her an early favorite for a spinoff project as soon as it was revealed that producers were looking to keep building the Star Trek franchise up on CBS All Access. Currently, the spinoffs and more include the short-form character stories in Short Treks (which is currently streaming), the upcoming half-hour animated comedy Star Trek: Below Decks, and Patrick Stewart's Captain Picard standalone series. Ooh, if only Steward and Yeoh could share the screen in this universe.
Beyond the return of Philippa Georgiou, Star Trek Discovery Season 2 will also feature the debut of Anson Mount's Christopher Pike, who serves as Captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise and will aid in piloting the Discovery in some fashion. Fans will also get to meet Ethan Peck's younger-generation take on Mr. Spock. IT and Mama creature actor Javier Botet will also be joining the show as an "old creature" whose identity is yet to be revealed.
Is Michelle Yeoh's Philippa Georgiou the perfect choice for a Star Trek Discovery spinoff? Let us know how you feel about it, and get pumped for Season 2's big debut on CBS All Access. The episode will go live on Thursday, January 17, so be sure to tune in. While waiting, our fall TV premiere schedule will help you find other new and returning shows hitting primetime.
