Following this summer's Star Trek: Beyond cinematic revelation that John Sulu is gay - making him the first openly LGBT character in Star Trek history - Bryan Fuller announced this week that his 2017 CBS series Star Trek: Discovery would also feature a gay character - and a female lead. At the Television Critics Association press tour, Bryan explained this choice, stating "'Star Trek started with a wonderful expression of diversity in its cast. You had a Russian with a black woman and an Asian man amongst a Vulcan, which is a different kind of diversity. We're absolutely continuing that tradition." Of course, Star Trek isn't the first galaxy to embrace female leads and diversity. Star Wars: The Force Awakens made major waves with a female lead and a black lead, and its latest film, Rogue One, also features a diverse cast and central heroine. We couldn't be more ecstatic about this latest (and ideally permanent) trend, and couldn't help but dream about what other franchises might take a note themselves. Here are nine more that we're hoping will listen up!
9. The Lord of the Rings
Frankly, the hobbit / female ratio is astounding. Can a Middle Earth female have a moment?
8. Bourne
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They tried it to deviate from Damon with Jeremy Renner and that didn't work, but what they should have done was tried it with, say, Zoe Saldana, and that definitely would have worked.
7. Transformers
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Yes, Transformers always features a prominent female sidekick, but if they're going to keep making these damn things can the next one please star Alicia Vikander surrounded only by robots voiced by Oscar nominees?
6. Mission Impossible
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The real impossible mission will be casting a female lead when Tom Cruise gets tired. And he will. Eventually.
5. Indiana Jones
Daisy Ridley wanted to throw another franchise on top of Star Wars anyway, so when she didn't end up with Tomb Raider we assume she'll have no problem just raiding different tombs.
4. Pirates of the Caribbean
Okay, we all know at this point Pirates is, well, dead in the water. Reboot it with an all-female crew and we're on board.
3. Harry Potter and the Female Lead
J.K. Rowling has declared Cursed Child the last Harry Potter story, but we all know that's not true. Also, with Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them coming out, the Potterverse is far from over. It's time for a female lead, J.K!
2. Rocky / Creed
Ronda Rousey didn't end up scoring Captain Marvel as she'd hoped, but we imagine she'd be a total K.O. in this franchise. Consider introducing her alongside Michael B. Jordan and creating a new branch of Rocky that we'd fall for over and over again.
1. James Bond
Can Helen Mirren just be James Bond already? Why are we wasting time on this?
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