Beam me up, rotty: Sonequa Martin-Green getting cast as the main character of Star Trek: Discovery is great news for her, but pretty much a death warrant for her counterpart Sasha in The Walking Dead, right? Filming two prominent roles in separate TV series would make for an overstuffed calendar, but Martin-Green's refusing to expound on the implications for Sasha.
"Well, I can’t say anything,” Martin-Green told Entertainment Weekly. “I can say that the story is as impactful and powerful and dynamic as it always has been, and there’s nothing to worry about where that’s concerned.”
I just want to pause for a moment and applaud the masterful way she dodged the question there. With diplomatic skills like that, the U.S.S. Discovery could hardly ask for a better lieutenant commander. The Walking Dead showrunner Scott M. Gimple was more openly optimistic about Sasha's chances when queried by EW.
“Sonequa Martin-Green can do anything,” Gimple said. “I’ve seen her battle a horde of walkers this year while simultaneously battling a stomach flu that would have had most people crying in the dirt. She can fulfill the duties of a Lieutenant Commander on a Constitution-class starship whilst battling walkers, Saviors, and whatever gets in Sasha’s way.
"We’ve had to juggle before," Gimple added. "I will certainly juggle for Star Trek any day of the week. Okay, maybe not on Sunday.”
Note how he never actually says Martin-Green will remain on the show and that Sasha fans need not fear her grim demise at the hands of walkers / bikers / scheduling conflicts, just that she could stick around. Maybe Starfleet should offer Gimple a diplomatic post as well.
The Walking Dead Season 7 will return from its winter break on AMC on Feb. 12. Star Trek: Discovery still has a "flexible" launch date after a string of delays.
Seen something newsworthy? Tell us!
