Part 5/8:
In the midst of this storm, Jason Isaacs—the actor who famously portrayed Lucius Malfoy in the Harry Potter films—has publicly supported the casting of Papa Sidu. Isaacs, who is currently earning acclaim for his role in The White Lotus, voiced his defense during a conversation with Collider at Fan Expo.
He praised Papa Sidu as "one of the best actors I’ve ever seen" and challenged critics, suggesting that they would be "swallowing their tongues" when they see Sidu’s performance. Isaacs’ endorsement, however, has sparked further controversy. Critics argue that supporting race-bending for the sake of talent overlooks the importance of character description and story authenticity.