‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Star Jason Isaacs on the Toughest Thing About the Shoot

“You’ll be in all kinds of amazing different worlds, but we’re not,” actor tells TheWrap

Jason Isaacs on "Star Trek: Discovery:
Jason Isaacs on "Star Trek: Discovery:

Star Trek: Discovery” takes viewers to new extraterrestrial destinations, but star Jason Isaacs didn’t get to go on quite the same type of journey.

The actor, who plays Captain Gabriel Lorca on CBS All Access’ new entry in the beloved sci-fi franchise, told TheWrap that he faces two big challenges: not sharing details about future episodes, and not having a lot to work with during the filming.

“The toughest thing was being on the set all day,” Isaacs said. “You watch the show, and you’ll be in all kinds of amazing different worlds. But we’re not. We’re in a giant warehouse in Toronto, and those different worlds will be created with the help of some fabulous sets and a lot of people sitting with a mouse and a keyboard.”

Isaacs wasn’t involved with the show prior to executive producer Bryan Fuller’s exit as showrunner, which was announced in October 2016. (Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts now run the writers room.) But the actor said Fuller’s influence continues to be felt.

“I came along when he left,” the “Harry Potter” franchise alum said. “But there’s a big legacy left by many of the people that I worked with, like Bryan’s protegés and friends and mentors and creative collaborators. So I think his stamp is definitely on it, but I’ve never met the guy.”

Does Isaacs find it as jarring as some viewers that Sonequa Martin-Green’s character, First Officer Michael Burnham, has a man’s name?

“It’s 100 years in the future — there’s far more than that that’s going to change,” he said. “Names go in such fashions, that it’s a joy that we recognize them as currently human names because they might be all numerical in the future.”

New episodes of “Star Trek: Discovery” launch Sundays at 8:30/7:30c on CBS All Access.

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