Emmy winner Quinta Brunson shared an idea that's been floating around in her head about how she would incorporate her friend and Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe into the cast of Abbott Elementary.
Brunson, who created and stars in the popular ABC TV mockumentary sitcom, mentioned casting Radcliffe during a discussion on Entertainment Weekly‘s Around the Table series.
She pitched Radcliffe's role as a family member to one of the main characters on the show, and her choice for the hypothetical casting was hilariously uncompelling.
“I love Daniel Radcliffe. He’s a very good, sweet guy, and a friend of mine," she said.
"For some reason in the room we were like, what if Daniel Radcliffe was Mr. Johnson’s son?"
The character of Mr. Johnson, played by Black actor William Stanford Davis, is the elementary school's eccentric but talented janitor who shares wacky conspiracy theories with students, much to the chagrin of the staff.
The role was credited as a guest star in the first season until Sanford Davis became a series regular in the second season.
Aside from Mr. Johnson's quirkiness, not much is known about the character. So, while being a major head-scratcher, the introduction of the janitor's White son played by Radcliffe could be...interesting.
So what compelled Brunson to pitch the former Harry Potter actor for the role?
"There’s no rhyme or reason," she said, adding:
"It’s so dumb. And not like Daniel Radcliffe as somebody, like Daniel Radcliffe is Mr. Johnson’s son."
You can watch a clip here.
The Cast of 'Abbott Elementary' Breaks Down Season 3 | Entertainment Weeklyyoutu.be
Alas, nothing ever came of the idea. Yet.
Radcliffe has worked with Brunson before on Weird: The Al Yankovic Story and Miracle Workers and he expressed interest in teaming up with her someday on a rom-com.
On the red carpet at the 2023 Emmys, Radcliffe told Variety :
"And we're a perfect height match, so really there's a future in this."
Brunson's fellow Abbott cast members shared their respective dream casting choices during the roundtable discussion.
Lisa Ann Walters suggested Joe Pesci for her character Melissa Schemmenti's dad; Sanford Davis wanted Halle Berry as Mr. Johnson's girlfriend; and Sheryl Lee Ralph lobbied for Pedro Pascal, and Jared Leto—or as she put it, "Pretty Jesus"—on the show somehow.
Janelle James, who plays the school's tone-deaf principal Ava Coleman said:
"Diana Ross as the glamorous mother I've always tried to impress."
Meanwhile, Chris Perfetti, who plays eighth-grade teacher Jacob Hill, hinted anything was possible to get A-listers on their TV show because "Meryl does TV now."
It's true. Living legend Meryl Streep in recent years has elevated storylines with her brilliant performances in TV shows like Big Little Lies and Only Murders in the Building.
Season 3 of Abbott Elementary starts February 8.
Keep your eyes peeled for some new characters played by your favorite celebrities. Because anything is possible.
@GregAbbott_TX/X
