Set phasers to Stunned (but we really shouldn't be).
On Sunday, a strange Star Trek feud came to light on Twitter when Jason Isaacs—Captain Lorca in CBS All Access' Star Trek: Discovery—shared the news that William Shatner had blocked him. Isaacs, a British actor also known for roles in Harry Potter and The OA, tweeted about the discovery and jokingly voiced his hurt and bewilderment.
I've been blocked by @WilliamShatner. The unkindest cut of all. In what way have I broken the prime directive Captain? Was it the end of sentence minor-key uptick? The quizzical eyebrow (and blue eyeliner)? The just too-tight uniform? Forgive me my sins - it's an homage, I swear.
— Jason Isaacs (@jasonsfolly) November 27, 2017
Anyone who follows the social media adventures of the 86-year-old Shatner in recent years won't be surprised that the former Captain James T. Kirk is beefing with the new kid on the Trek block. In 2014, Shatner put a random Twitter user on blast for getting verified despite being "nobody." In 2015, fellow Star Trek alum George Takei (with whom Shatner has long publicly feuded) claimed Shatner stirs up controversy for the purpose of publicity. This past summer, Shatner started picking fights with Outlander fans, calling them "Snowflakes" and "SJWs."
Even back in the day, Shatner was hard to work with, according to his cast mates. When Spock actor Leonard Nimoy died in 2016, he reportedly hadn't spoken to Shatner in five years. And rumor has it Nichelle Nichols, who played Uhura, nearly quit the show because of him.
No just certain snowflakes in fandoms who don't like to hear truths or differing opinions. https://t.co/CBdyJPGGAp
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 30, 2017
Why is it that SJW's think they can align themselves with those that demanded social reform in the 60's? https://t.co/6CRVzawgLG
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 31, 2017
In other words, Isaacs is going where many people have gone before. And that might be why he's not taking Shatner's shun too seriously. But the question remains why Shatner decided to keep Isaacs from reading his Captain's Log? It might have something to do with a fight the two captains had earlier this month.
"Bill Shatner started to troll me online. I was misquoted about Star Trek, and we got into this wild banter with each other," Isaacs told The Telegraph earlier this month. "Then I met him and he seemed to have no knowledge of it at all. So I'm not sure he does his own Twitter feed, but I rather enjoy engaging with whoever online William Shatner is."
So what's the deal? Is Shatner suffering from memory loss? Does he just have an usually zealous social media team? Is his Universal Translator busted? Or is this a Mirror Universe Shatner? And what's going to happen with the rumor that Discovery might write a small role for Shatner, which the actor himself seemed interested in pursuing?
Barring a mind meld with Shatner, we might never know the answers to those questions. But one thing's for sure: This Starfleet skimish is a good way to occupy our time until Discovery returns on January 7.
Uncommon Knowledge
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Anna is a Newsweek culture writer based in New York City. Previously she was a Film/TV writer at Elite Daily and an ... Read more
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