Star Trek: Discovery is adding up to be the most diverse cast in the Star Trek TV franchise. Variety reports the upcoming CBS All Access series will feature a female lead, a gay character, and possibly Spock’s mother.

Though little has been revealed about the reboot so far, showrunner Bryan Fuller has disclosed the series will feature a more linear story arc and a familiar alien race (likely the Andorians).

At the show’s TCA summer press tour panel, Fuller opened up about the show’s timeline, plot, and casting. First, he revealed Star Trek: Discovery will be set 10 years before the original series and will be take place within the continuity of the “prime” universe (as opposed to the “Kelvin” universe seen in the J.J. Abrams’ film franchise):

That allows us to bridge the gap between ‘Enterprise’ and the original series and redefine the visual style of the universe. We’re much closer to Kirk’s mission so we get to play with the iconography of those ships and those uniforms.”

He mentioned the core cast will number around seven, including the lead character, a female Lt. Commander:

We’ve seen six series from captains’ points of view, so to see a character from a different perspective, who has a different dynamic with the captain, with subordinates. In order to understand something that’s completely alien from her, she has to understand herself. It’s so easy to look at someone different from ourselves and think how we would think in their shoes, but we cannot imagine how they’d think because we are not them. It’s part of the character’s journey in this first season.”

The series also might include an appearance from Spock’s mother, Amanda Grayson:

It’d be great in some iteration to integrate her storyline in some way… She’s not a central part of the show, but I love that character.”

And when asked if the cast will include an LGBT character, Fuller said “absolutely.”

Star Trek: Discovery is scheduled to premiere in early 2017.

What do you think? Are you a Star Trek fan? Will you watch the new series?