Jason Isaacs Says 'The Door's Not Shut' On Netflix's The OA - Exclusive
Fans of "The OA" were devastated when the series was canceled at Netflix after two seasons. The exciting and original show refused to be confined by one genre, straddling science fiction, horror, fantasy, and true crime throughout its run. As antagonist Dr. Hunter Aloysius Percy, known simply as "Hap," Jason Isaacs terrified viewers with a complex performance that hinted there might be some humanity left beneath the monster's veneer.
Since the show's cancelation, the cast has been inundated with questions about whether "The OA" is really over, or if we'll ever get another chapter, and the villain of the piece definitely has some thoughts about it.
Isaacs is no stranger to our screens. His latest film is "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," a gorgeous comedy-drama set against the backdrop of 1950s Paris. When widowed cleaner Ada receives an unexpected inheritance, she decides to splurge on the one thing she's always wanted — a gorgeous, custom-made Dior gown. Understandably, the fashion set pushes back against a seemingly ordinary woman attempting to enter their ranks. The resulting film will affirm your belief in the essential goodness of people.
To promote the release of "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris," which is in theaters now, Jason Isaacs talks to The List about the cancelation of "The OA" and whether we'll ever get a third chapter of the beloved series.
The 'door certainly didn't close' on The OA
Discussing his storied career, Jason Isaacs tells The List, "When it comes to me, most people are Googling, 'Is "The OA" coming back?' Is that a gag? Are we playing a joke on the audiences by waiting a few years?" Netflix's "The OA" was canceled by the streamer in August 2019 after just two seasons. Co-creators Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij had initially planned for five seasons of the show, leaving fans devastated when its run was cut drastically short.
As for the streamer's decision to cancel "The OA," Isaacs explains, "[Netflix] disrupted the entire industry. The people who worked on the show loved it. The Netflix people who worked on the show loved it." He continues, "They have a different funding model. They have different priorities, and you can't hate anyone for making a business decision. It is what it is. There's no bad people working there. No one did it out of malign instinct."
Despite the show ending on a cliffhanger much earlier than it should have, Isaacs hints that "The OA" might not be totally over. "The way we left it," he teases, "the door certainly didn't close, did it?"
Jason Isaacs was 'heartbroken' at The OA's cancelation
When it comes to the creators of "The OA," Jason Isaacs has only the utmost praise. Discussing Brit Marling and Zal Batmanglij's work, Isaacs says, "They are in a parallel universe when it comes to the fearlessness of their imagination, and how they don't have the ability in their DNA, they couldn't reach for a cliché if they were paid, if they were begged to do it." He continues, "And it all, oddly, for a series ... which is so fantastical, dealing in fantasy and parallel universes and stuff, it sounds like an odd thing to say, but it's rich with their integrity, their authenticity."
As the the show's decision to switch genres between its first and second seasons, Isaacs tells The List, "You see other shows going, 'Well, I know what the audience likes. Let's give more of that,' and [ the 'OA' writers] went, 'I know where I want to go and these people are on the journey with us.'" However, Isaacs still has hope that "The OA" will back again at some point in the future. "I loved that piece. We were all heartbroken when it was canceled, but we're aware that the door's not shut."
"Mrs Harris Goes to Paris" is now playing in theaters. Book tickets now.