'The Orville' Star Mark Jackson Talks Science Fiction, 'Star Trek,' And A Brighter Future
The journey of The Orville has begun, and one of its most interesting crew members is a fully [...]
Playing Isaac
Isaac seems to fit into "the other" archetype that Spock and, in the Next Generation, Data filled. Is that how you see the character, as a comedic take on that archetype, or do you have a different idea in your mind?
MJ: Well, you know, Isaac definitely stands on the shoulders of all these fantastic characters. It was important to us to really highlight the fact that he's alien. He's not human-made. He is completely alien and from a planet that largely lies outside of the union, which is, as you know, the conglomeration of planets and worlds that make up this sort of UN of species in the future.
So, yeah, there's an element of the unknown about Isaac, which was important to get across. I mean, as the season goes on, he becomes more and more of a presence in each episode. Episode eight is particularly Isaac heavy, and we do start to learn a lot more about him, and, it's often quite surprising. So, I think, where he does, as I said, stand on the shoulders of these great characters, he also goes off in a slightly different direction.
Is there anything else that you can tell us about what that episode entails?
MJ: Every of the main sort of characters catches an episode in this season. I can't give too much away, but it's safe to say we learn a lot more about him and we see relationships develop between him and some of the other characters on the show, which is very insightful for an artificial life form.
Any chance we'll get to see Kaylon, his home planet?
MJ: I believe there were plans originally for this season to see Kaylon, but I think they might be pushed to a possible second season. So, we're not seeing Kaylon this time, but we're going to learn a lot more about it.
Isaac had an interesting introduction where Mercer calls him out as, "Hey, your whole species is very racist, right?" Was there any concern, especially given the level of the social and political discourse these days, that having a character on your show that somebody calls out as straight up racist might be taken the wrong way by viewers?
MJ: It's very indicative of Seth's comedy that it was out there to say, but, of course, it's important to remember that Isaac doesn't think he is racist, and as it turns out, he isn't, of course. That's just the sort of slander that is made against Kaylon, because no one knows very much about them, really. But it's also a very human reaction, to the Kaylon, which is quite interesting. You know that what the humans perceive Kaylon to be is in no way how Kaylon perceive themselves to be, and in a way, they aren't. So, through Isaac's interactions with the crew, we start to realize where human limits lie. You know, like with all great sci-fi, it's about discovering what it is to be human, and when you're faced with an artificial life form, that tends to come across quite clearly.
Can you talk a little bit about what it's like being in that suit? Is there a particular challenge you've noticed that you're trying to overcome with dealing with that?
MJ: The suit actually wasn't bad at all. The studios we film on, the sound stages, they pump air conditioning in. So, whereas all the cast were sitting around in coats, I was really temperate in my suit and was quite happy. I think some actors might have an issue with, I don't know, perhaps a claustrophobia or so, but luckily, I don't. It's quite space age, that suit. They put a lot of man hours into making it very comfortable and deluxe. So, it was quite enjoyable, actually, and any restrictions the suit did provide helped to come up the way that Isaac moved.
prevnextTalking Trek
You mentioned you're a fan of sci-fi. Is it safe to say that you were a Star Trek fan going into this?
MJ: Yeah, absolutely.
Seth MacFarlane has been pretty open that this is a kind of homage and a love letter to Star Trek, which he's always been a big fan of. Is Star Trek used as a point of reference much while you're actually filming the show, or is that more of something that was in the background for the concept, and now it's more about, "Well, how do we make this our own thing?"
MJ: Yeah, I mean, oddly, Star Trek wasn't really talked about much on the set at all. I suspect in the development phase, as you say, this show is a love letter and a homage to Star Trek, particularly Next Generation and Voyager. And those shows are very alive in terms of our conscious at the moment. Yeah, I think that, obviously, in development, those things were considered. I mean, obviously, visually, the show draws on those wonderful series of Star Treks.
But I think, tonally, it was quite important to move away from that. You know, Orville picks up where Star Trek doesn't go. So, going into what is often considered mundane, but the casual and normal lives of the crew, was taking it a big step further than it was for Star Trek. And I think that was the main focus, to keep on going in that direction.
MacFarlane recently mentioned that he's lining up some Star Trek cameos for The Orville. Given that you are a Star Trek fan yourself, do you have your own personal wishlist of Star Trek actors you'd like to share a scene with if you had the chance?
MJ: Yes. And without giving too much away, I already have. So, I'm very happy about that and it's very exciting, and we're very privileged to have these fine actors working with us. There's a few more I'd like to see, but if I said their names, then you'd know that they're not in the season, so I won't. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise for you guys.
Do you believe that there is room in people's TV schedules for both Star Trek: Discovery and The Orville? Do you think they can coexist happily?
MJ: Well, let's face it. Who's got time to watch all the shows nowadays? So, I don't know. That goes out to the individual, but yeah, I'd love to watch it. I need to get CBS All Access because I don't have that. But yeah, I think so. I think the shows are going to be significantly different. I've seen the trailers for Star Trek and it looks fantastic but very different to The Orville, which is wonderful. I mean you can watch both in one night and feel like you've had a nice sort of smorgasbord of sci-fi.
What's interesting is that, to some fans, The Orville resembles classic Star Trek more than the actual Star Trek show does.
MJ: Right, I'd say yes it does. It certainly harks back to the original series more than it seems that the new Star Trek does. But it does look very cool. It looks very sexy, and I'm looking forward to it.
Are there any last comments or notes you'd like to leave fans with?
MJ: Keep watching and expect the unexpected.
The Orville airs Thursdays at 9 p.m. ET on Fox.
prev