Jason Isaacs Hopes ‘Star Trek: Discovery’ Sends A Real World Message

The Star Trek universe, and its hopeful depiction of society, have resonated with fans for decades. With the latest chapter in the franchise, Star Trek: Discovery, arriving next month, one star hopes that that optimistic sensibility will have a real-world impact.

Jason Isaacs, who plays Captain Gabriel Lorca, recently addressed Discovery‘s societal ramifications in an interview with Variety. As Isaacs revealed, he signed on to the series after taking the current political climate into account.

“The world is complicated and horrible,” Isaacs explained, “and I don’t know how to explain to my children the insanity of the people who are in charge of it at the moment. I thought it was a good story to tell — and something I would be happy to watch — about presenting a vision of the world that’s full of drama but also full of resolution and unity.”

While both Isaacs and Discovery producer Alex Kurtzman have hinted at the show polarizing some fans, it’s clear that the overall sensibility of the Trek franchise is a priority for those involved. The show has already gone above and beyond to evoke the elements of the previous series, with Discovery‘s writing staff populated with Trek superfans.

With any luck, Discovery‘s real-world message will be felt by fans, as CBS is already considering bringing other new Trek shows into the fold.

Set 10 years prior to the five-year mission of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Discovery follows the adventures of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new lifeforms, and one Starfleet officer who must learn that to truly understand all things alien, you must first understand yourself. The series will feature a new ship, new characters, and new missions while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers.

Star Trek: Discovery will debut on September 24th.