Star Trek‘s Capt. Jean-Luc Picard spinoff is going where no Star Trek series has gone before — a woman will direct the pilot.
According to Deadline, Hanelle Culpepper will direct the first two episodes of the upcoming series, making her the first woman in the franchise’s 53-year history to launch a Star Trek series.
The Picard series isn’t the first Star Trek series Culpepper has under her belt. According to Deadline, she has previously directed two episodes of CBS All-Access‘ Star Trek: Discovery. Culpepper’s directing resume also includes high-profile network and cable television shows such as Counterpart, How to Get Away with Murder, Gotham, Criminal Minds and others.
Picard series showrunner and current Discovery showrunner Alex Kurtzman said Culpepper is “a gifted and dynamic filmmaker whose directorial choices are always deeply rooted in character. I’ve been a huge fan of her work since she started with us on Discovery, and she’s the perfect person to re-introduce the beloved character of Picard to longtime fans and new viewers alike.”
The Picard series is not the only spinoff CBS has lined up for Star Trek‘s television resurgence. There will also be a spinoff featuring Starfleet’s shadow organization Section 31 starring Michelle Yeoh. An animated Star Trek series is also in the works, and Discovery has been greenlit for a third season.
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