‘Star Trek’ Enlists Jason Isaacs as Discovery Captain

CBS All Access’ Star Trek: Discovery has added a captain to its ranks.

Jason Isaacs has joined the cast of the twice-delayed Star Trek drama for CBS’ digital platform, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The series features the franchise’s Enterprise, now known as the U.S.S. Discovery, and introduces new characters seeking new worlds and civilizations while exploring the dramatic contemporary themes that have been a signature of the franchise since its inception in 1966. 

Isaacs (USA Network’s Dig, NBC’s Awake) will star as Captain Lorca, the captain of the Starship Discovery. He joins a growing cast of series regulars that includes The Walking Dead‘s Sonequa Martin-Green as Rainsford, a lieutenant commander; Doug Jones as science officer Saru; Anthony Rapp as fellow science officer Stamets; James Frain as Sarek, a Vulcan astrophysicist and Spock’s father; Terry Serpico as Starfleet admiral Anderson; Maulik Pancholy as chief medical officer Nambue; and Sam Vartholomeos as junior Starfleet officer Connor. Set to recur are Michelle Yeoh as Georgiu, captain of another ship called the Shenzhou; Shazad Latif as Kol, the Klingon commanding officer; Chris Obi as Klingon leader T’Kuvma; and Mary Chieffo as L’Rell, a Klingon commander.

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The 13-episode Star Trek: Discovery has already had a troubled road to the screen. Originally set to debut in January, it was delayed to May before being pushed back a second time. CBS Corp. CEO Leslie Moonves noted recently that the series is now likely going to debut in the late summer or fall. On top of the delays, original showrunner Bryan Fuller exited the series in October, with his longtime collaborators Gretchen Berg and Aaron Harberts poised to take over.

Additional executive producers on Star Trek: Discovery, produced by CBS Television Studios, include Alex Kurtzman and his Secret Hideout topper Heather Kadin, Fuller via his Living Dead Guy Productions, Roddenberry Entertainment’s Rod Roddenberry, Akiva Goldsman and Trevor Roth.

Isaacs, a popular name among broadcast and cable networks every pilot season, counts Netflix’s The OA and the Harry Potter franchise as well as Hotel Mumbai and Death of a Stain among his credits. He is repped by Gersh, Silver Lining and Jackoway Tyerman.