Have you ever wanted to know what Lucius Malfoy would bring to a starship captaincy? You’re about to find out, my friends–Star Trek: Discovery has just put Jason Isaacs in The Chair as Captain Lorca.
Isaacs has a full and vibrant career as an actor, and has held his fair share of genre fiction roles, from Captain Hook in Peter Pan to the father of Harry Potter’s schoolyard nemesis, Draco Malfoy. He certainly has the panache that a starship captaincy requires. All the same, this will not be the central leading role in the show; that belongs to Sonequa Martin-Green, one of the lieutenant commanders aboard the Discovery. It will be fascinating to see what Isaacs brings to the role, particularly knowing that he will not be the focal character. Lorca is a Spanish surname, so that might give us some hints as to what the character’s background will be.
Can he still carry a walking stick topped with a snake head around the ship, though? If he can’t, at least promise me that he will have lots of banter with Michelle Yeoh’s Captain Georgiou, commanding the USS Shenzhou. Captain BFFs.
Discovery‘s cast seems to have finally shaped up, and it is likely that filming will commence in earnest now that the majority of the crew have been announced. Star Trek: Discovery is set to premiere in late summer/early fall of 2017.
[Via Entertainment Weekly]
So it is confirmed, they’re doing a Mutiny on the Bounty….In Space! as the plot of this STD then.
He was also the Grand Inquisitor on Star Wars Rebels and the dude from Awake, err, John Awake… or something.
Hello to Captain Lorca.
Funny, I was only thinking the other week that I hadn’t seen Isaacs, an actor who used to be as omnipresent as Mark Strong, in anything since Case Histories a few years back. He’s (IMO) a versatile actor with plenty of presence, and I’m very happy with this casting news.
Good choice, and we’ll have our first Hispanic “main ship” Captain on a show, even if he’s not the main character. Also, since he’s played so many good villains, when they visit the mirror universe he’ll be a great bad guy.
They’ve also announced Mary Wiseman as Cadet Tilly, she was good in Baskets.
Lorca could be an alien name. Are we sure he’s playing a human?
In that case, any of the names they’ve chosen could be alien. They’ve mentioned who is alien and who’s not so far.
Oh, don’t get my hopes up. An all alien cast would be excellent. Humans are way over-represented on television. ;-)
“Lorca is a Spanish surname, so that might give us some hints as to what the character’s background will be.”
In the grand tradition of Jean Luc Picard having a British accent, I predict that Captain Lorca will claim to be from Spain but have a German accent.
@@.-@ Vortimer: He appeared recently in Netflix’s The OA. He’s one of the series’ highlights.
Hello to jason isaacs.
I’m wondering if cheerio at #3 is a member of the church. What say you, cheerio?
#11
Blimey Charlie! Of course.
Trying not to derail too much but… this is my first experience of finding another member of the church of wittertainment. Not quite on the same level as that train carriage saga though, how about that?
Tinkerty tonk old fruit and down with the nazis!
Here’s looking forward to many scenes of a shirtless captain on the bridge.
#13
Must admit I gradually fell out of listening to full shows a couple years ago, but I still watch Kermode’s reviews on Youtube, depending on the movie. Cheers.
I’m ecstatic! I’ve been wondering where Jason Isaacs has been lately — didn’t see whatever that was on Netflix — and now, oh my gosh, I’m soooooo happy! Can’t wait!!!
I wish they had made Yeoh the main person but I’m not even sure I’m going to be watching the show if she was. I’m also willing to see how they do this but traditionally, additional captains aren’t major players so there’s that.
I am pleased with the pick – he’s an excellent actor who will make the show very viable, for an internet only ‘sensation’ – I hope they do offer more previews of the show than just one episode, even if it’s extended clips. If HBO can offer full Jon Oliver rants on You Tube for free, some 10 or so minute scenes would help encourage people to their otherwise poorly reasoned choice to monetize their network in the streaming age.
It doesn’t look like it’ll be a traditional Star Trek show that centers on one captain and one crew.
Watched Awake only after I realized it was Jason Isaacs (loved him in Case Histories). Now you (bludemos) tell me he’s in the OA? I had decided not to watch that, but I must do so just for him!
This isn’t the first time they’ve tried to yank the focus away from the captain, only to have the forces of fandom wrestle it back. I hope they succeed this time, and that Isaacs himself holds the line against fan demands that he have episodes all to himself where he beams down shirtless to punch the baddie and get the girl.
The ideal would be like the late Don Davis’ character “General Hammond” in Stargate SG-1, a solid role but not the one who goes out.