EW has learned of two major developments on the CBS All-Access series: The first is that the series will include Spock’s father Sarek as a key character. This is the first character who has appeared previously in the Trek franchise to get on board the new series. Not only that, but our Federation sources have revealed who will be playing Sarek: Actor James Frain, who most recently played mayor Theo Galavan (a.k.a. Azrael) on Fox’s Gotham. Frain has also had arcs on BBC America’s Orphan Black, HBO’s True Blood and NBC’s Grimm.
Discovery will start filming in Toronto next week. However — and this is the other significant development — the series is no longer going to premiere in May as previously announced. This is the second time the show’s debut date has changed. But while certain creative and production issues were a factor when Discovery was originally pushed from February to May, we’re hearing lately the drama is on track under new showrunners Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts.