Jason Isaacs is interested in returning as Prime Lorca in another Star Trek series.
Gabriel Lorca was the main villain on Star Trek: Discovery‘s first season, having been revealed as the Mirror Universe’s version of Lorca. Since this revelation five years ago, fans have been pushing for the real Gabriel Lorca, aka Prime Lorca, to appear on Discovery.
That’s no longer likely, at least on Discovery, as Discovery is now set in a whole new time period in Star Trek lore. That doesn’t mean that Lorca can’t appear still on a show like Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
So when The List got a chance to interview the man who played Lorca, Jason Isaacs, the topic of Star Trek came up. We already know that Isaacs is open to playing the role again, but when asked if he’d return to Trek, he doubled down simply by saying, “Yeah, sure”.
Then he was asked what it would take to return. He replied;
"The story would have to be great. It was a fantastic storyline. All actors ever want is a secret, and I had the biggest secret of all, without spoiling it for anyone. If people haven’t watched it already, it’s unlikely they’ll watch it now, but there is nonetheless a fantastic secret, and I had it to play, and I knew it. Iit means that when you watch it, like when you watch “The Sixth Sense” for a second time, there’s a whole new layer of enjoyment to be had when you know what things turn out to be."
Again, a good script was something we already knew would bring him back. Then, however, Isaacs revealed he’s not only been working with Akiva Goldsman on a different, non-Star Trek project right now called “The Crowded Room” but Isaacs and he have talked Trek.
"I’m working with Akiva Goldsman right now, who wrote and directed quite a lot of “[Star Trek]: Discovery,” on a Tom Holland mini series, “The Crowded Room” in New York. We’ve talked about Prime Lorca, and it would have to be as good a story as Season 1 of “Discovery.” I don’t want to come back just because he’s a fan favorite and do some version that isn’t anywhere near as good. If there’s space, they have so many brilliant series up now. “Strange New Worlds” has been a massive hit as well, and “Picard” is a huge hit, but where and if there’s space for a Prime Lorca arc, I’m all up for it. I don’t want to come back just to squeeze into that sausage skintight suit."
Jason Isaacs returning as Prime Lorca on Star Trek: Strange New Worlds just makes too much sense
There could easily be a two-season arc surrounding Prime Lorca and Jason Isaacs. Season two could bring up the idea that they know Lorca’s alive, or maybe start the investigation into if he’s a life still and where he may be. Then the season finale could end with his rescue or his shocking return.
Then season three plays out with Lorca and Anson Mount’s Captain Pike being at odds with one another. You can fit any reason you want as to why they are at odds into the equation, they just about all work. Be it differing points of view, Lorca no longer being the same after his time away, time travel nonsense, whatever.
The two men would be perfect foils for one another, and Lorca as a series baddie would be too good to pass up. Whether he’s a mustache-twirling bad guy, or if he’s just an antagonist who doesn’t align with Pike’s views.
I want it, give it to me.