Actress Zoe Saldana is set to play Uhura in J. J. Abrams' upcoming Star Trek prequel, a role famously originated by Nichelle Nichols.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, 29-year-old actress Zoe Saldana will embody Uhura, the Enterprise's chief communications officer, in J. J. Abrams’ prequel set for a December 2008 release.

Nichelle Nichols portrayed Uhura both on the big screen and on the small screen and was one the first black women to have a prominent role in a major television series.

The film’s lineup already includes Anton Yelchin (“Huff,” “Alpha Dog”) as a younger version of Russian navigator Pavel Chekov, played by Walter Koenig in the original TV series and seven feature films, and Zachary Quinto (“24,” “Heroes”) as young Mr. Spock.

The original Mr. Spock, Leonard Nimoy, will reportedly have a cameo as well. CinemaBlend.com quotes Nimoy explaining his motivation to participate in the project:

“People have been asking me why I'm doing this movie, and I think the answer is obvious: we have a great director, a wonderful script, and a wonderful young actor playing Spock, so…it was logical.”

Zoe Saldana, 29, has played in “Drumline” and “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” She is currently busy filming James Cameron’s first non-documentary directorial effort since 1997’s “Titanic,” the blockbuster 3-D fantasy “Avatar.”

Sam Worthington plays the lead character, war veteran Jake Scully, while Zoe plays his love interest, an alien named Neytiri. The cast includes Sigourney Weaver, Michelle Rodriguez and C. C. H. Pounder.

Zoe next appears on the big screen in February 2008, when the thriller “Vantage Point,” starring Dennis Quaid, Forest Whitaker, Matthew Fox and Sigourney Weaver is released.

J. J. Abrams debuted as a movie director in 2006, with “Mission: Impossible 3,” starring Tom Cruise. His Star Trek prequel will be distributed by Paramount Pictures. The plot is being kept under wraps. There have been rumors however that the story will show the Enterprise crew in earlier days than ever shown before.