Zoe Saldana is in final negotiations to play Uhura in the J.J. Abrams “Star Trek” movie. While the rumors of her being offered a part have been online for a few weeks, this is the first official word that she’s in the running.

In the original “Star Trek” TV series, Uhura – which means freedom in Swahili — was a member of the bridge crew of the U.S.S. Enterprise who rose to the rank of commander. Nichelle Nichols played the Starfleet Academy alum in the series.

Currently she’s busy filming James Cameron’s sci-fi epic “Avatar,” and I guess she’d go right from that into Trek.

Abrams is producing “Star Trek,” which revolves around the crew’s early days at Starfleet Academy, through his Paramount-based Bad Robot shingle.

With shooting expected to begin in November, expect more casting announcements over the next month, with who will play Captain Kirk as the big mystery yet to be revealed.