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Michelle Yeoh

Actress Michelle Yeoh has officially been tapped to front a new Star Trek: Discovery spin-off series, which will focus on her character Captain Philippa Georgiou.

The Crazy Rich Asians star initially stepped into the role as the Starfleet Captain aboard the Starship Shenzhou for the Discovery series' launch in 2017, and in November, reports suggested network bosses at CBS were developing a standalone show for Yeoh's popular character.

Now the news has formally been announced, with the spin-off to be executive produced by Discovery writers Bo Yeon Kim and Erika Lippoldt, and set to air on the company's All Access video on demand service.

"Michelle has shattered ceilings, broken boundaries, and astonished us with her grace and gravitas for decades," Star Trek executive producer Alex Kurtzman shares in a statement.

"As a human, I adore her. As an actor, I revere her," he adds. "Erika and Boey are remarkable, exciting writers who bring a fresh perspective to the world of Star Trek, and we're all thrilled to explore the next wild chapter in the life of Captain Philippa Georgiou."

"I'm so excited to continue telling these rich Star Trek stories," Michelle, a former Bond girl, says. "Being a part of this Universe and this character specifically has been such a joy for me to play. I can't wait to see where it all goes - certainly I believe it will go 'where no WOMAN has ever gone before!'"

Yeoh's new show isn't the only Star Trek spin-off in the works - Patrick Stewart is also returning to the franchise as Jean-Luc Picard for a live-action series centered on his captain, while there is also an animated show, titled Star Trek: Below Decks, in development.