Have you finished Deathly Hallows yet? Had a good cry? (And if so, for the love of Hagrid, don’t tell me why! Still reading!) How about taking a step back and getting some casting news for Harry Potter film No. 6 instead. Naomi Watts has signed on to play Narcissa Malfoy in the upcoming film Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, due out next year.
Narcissa is one nasty piece of work. The wife of Lucius Malfoy and mother of Draco Malfoy (Harry’s Hogwarts nemesis), she is also sister of Bellatrix LeStrange and Andromeda Tonks and the cousin of Sirius Black. Wow, that’s a lot of familial connections; do I need to break out the flow chart? Readers first met Narcissa briefly in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, but her character was left out of the film.
She is described in the books as a tall, slim, pale-skinned, blue-eyed blond with “a look that suggested there was a nasty smell under her nose.” Oh, and she is a major-league snob. What, Nicole Kidman wasn’t available? Actually, Naomi sounds practically perfect for the part. (Plus, she is Nicole’s best friend/tiny doppelganger so — you know — two birds, one stone.)
So far the casting for the Potter films has been inspired and inspiring. The series has been populated by a veritable who’s who of distinguished British thespians. I can’t think of a franchise that boasts more Academy Awards nominees (Naomi included) among its roster.
Other casting news for the film includes the addition of Joseph Fiennes (real-life brother of Ralph “That’s the Dark Lord Voldemort To You” Fiennes) and Stuart Townsend. Their roles have not been disclosed yet. Any guesses?
Aussie actress Naomi, who was actually born and lived in England until she was 14, should fit right into the bunch. If nothing else, seeing her in the franchise will bring up warm (if somewhat befuddled) memories of her lesbian turn in Mulholland Dr. Sure, I’m still fuzzy on the dream within a nightmare within a murder of your ex-girlfriend story line. But what I do know is that she and Laura Harring made a nice-looking couple. Hey, maybe there’s a bit part somewhere for Laura in the Potter movies. Oh, never mind. Save it for the femslash.
UPDATE: The Leaky Cauldron insists that the casting news is false. Why must they ruin our fun?
