They've conquered Earth, and now they're ready to explore the final frontier. Taraji P. Henson and Angela Bassett will both star in space-themed entertainment next year, sources have confirmed. Plus, rumors are brewing that Lupita Nyong'o and Ava DuVernay could soon team up for a science fiction film! #BlackGirlMagic everywhere!
For Bassett, it'll be a role on CBS's Star Trek television reboot. The esteemed actress will be the first Black woman to play a Starfleet captain. Turns out, the show's creator Bryan Fuller has had his eye on Bassett to play the role for a very long time. In a 2013 interview with DenOfGeek.com, he said, “I want Angela Bassett to be the captain, that’s who I would love to have, you know Captain Angela Bassett and First Officer Rosario Dawson. I would love to do that version of the show but that’s in the future to be told.”
As far as we know, Rosario hasn't signed on — yet.
On to Taraji. The Golden Globe winner has signed on for the film Hidden Figures, about a group of Black women who helped launch the first space shuttle. The women provided NASA with important mathematical data but their contributions are rarely recognized — until now. The film is set to release next year over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend (January 17).
Finally, Oscar winner Lupita and Selma director DuVernay are in negotiations for a film called Intelligent Life, which will star Nyong'o as an alien who falls in love with a U.N. worker. The film was written by Jurassic World's Colin Trevorrow and his partner Derek Connolly, and will be DuVernay's first foray into the intergalactic (not Lupita's, though: she had a major role in last year's Star Wars: The Force Awakens).
We can't wait to see these beautiful and talented ladies in some new work next year! In the mean time, watch Angela and a bunch of other stars recite their favorite lines from Black films below:

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(Photos from left: Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images, Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)