Warning: Spoilers for The Walking Dead Season 7 finale inside.
After dancing around the subject for months, CBS was finally able to announce that Sonequa Martin-Green is playing the lead character on the CBS reboot of Star Trek. The actress, best known for her role as Sasha on AMC’s The Walking Dead will play First Officer Michael Burnham on Star Trek: Discovery. But just because Martin-Green is switching networks, doesn’t mean her former co-stars are giving her up for good.
Speaking to Variety recently, Andrew Lincoln indicated he’d be up for a reunion, even if it involved sitting in the CBS Star Trek make-up chair for hours.
“[Sonequa Martin-Green is] a very impressive woman. She will be leading that starship with the same class and fortitude. That is going to be one happy spaceship. I’d love to beam myself up at some point in some kind of Greg Nicotero special effects makeup.”
Of course, Lincoln’s schedule is pretty full, what with The Walking Dead being picked up for another season. But should the actor be able to get away for an afternoon, there are plenty of prosthetic and make-up heavy aliens he could represent on Star Trek: Discovery. With over five decades in the can, there are dozens of classic species the new show could torture Lincoln with.
1. Cardassian
First introduced during “The Wounded” episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation, the Cardassian race has become one of the most instantly recognizable alien species of the franchise. Their snake-inspired neck ridges, prominent brows, and forehead “spoon” can take hours to apply to each actor.
2. Ferengi
Created by Gene Roddenberry and Herbert J. Wright, the Ferengi were originally designed to replace the Klingons as the main antagonists. But after a subpar outing in “The Last Outpost,” the species was refined over time until they became the misogynistic capitalists we all recognize today.
3. Borg
Always a classic, casting Andrew Lincoln as a member of the Borg would be a nice sort of symmetry as the cybernetic “species” are basically the zombies of space.
4. Grazerite
A more obscure alien species, the Grazerites slightly resemble a goat. The species was created for Star Trek: Deep Space Nine as the Federation President Jaresh-Inyo was a Grazerite. Although the make-up team was displeased with the final result, Andrew Lincoln’s face could be the perfect canvas to make another go at this species.
5. Kazon
These guys are basically a mixture of Cardassians and Wood Elves. Created for Star Trek: Voyager the Kazon were supposed to be recurring antagonists for Captain Janeway and her crew. But due to negative fan reaction, the species was scrapped after the second season. But perhaps now is the time for the Kazon to make a cameo comeback.
6. Talaxian
Designed by make-up artist Michael Westmore for Star Trek: Voyager, the Talaxians are recognized by their unique spotted appearance, bone ridges, and red hair.
7. Gorn
If I’m honest, I selected the Gorn solely on the basis that I’d love to see what 21st-century prosthetics can do to update this lizard species.