Why didn't Jason Isaacs think Patrick Schwarzenegger to be ‘nice’?

Jason Isaacs had a completely different image in mind before meeting Patrick Schwarzenegger on the set of The White Lotus, but his assumptions were quickly turned upside down. 

During a recent appearance on Table Manners with Jessie and Lennie Ware, Isaacs opened up about his bond with his younger co-stars from the hit series, including Schwarzenegger, Sam Nivola, and Sarah Catherine Hook.

"You know who I charmed up with? It's my kids. Patrick [Schwarzenegger], Sam [Nivola], Sarah Catherine [Hook], became like my kids, you know, by proxy, and I fell madly in love with them. We text each other all the time," Isaacs shared warmly, clearly reflecting on the relationships formed during filming. 

He fondly referred to the trio as “gorgeous people.”

Isaacs, who plays Timothy Ratliff in the third season of the HBO drama, admitted he didn’t expect to connect so deeply with Schwarzenegger, given his famous family background. 

"I didn't expect Patrick to be nice because he's the son of a famous movie star, and he's such a fabulous, grounded person. And all three of them," Isaacs said, adding that he also formed friendships with castmates Christian Friedel and Jon Gries.

Schwarzenegger steps into the role of Saxson Ratliff, the eldest child of Isaacs’ character and Victoria, played by Parker Posey. In the show, Saxson works for his father’s company, adding another layer to the show's intricate family dynamics.

Speaking about the opportunity, Patrick said, "To work with [series creator] Mike White and just to be part of this project was a dream come true. It was surreal, it was life-changing to learn amongst the other actors," as he told E! News back in November 2024.

His mother, Maria Shriver, couldn’t hide her excitement when the casting news broke. 

She gushed on Instagram, "All that hard work and determination is really paying off. I can’t wait to visit you on set ( am I allowed to visit you on set?) and can’t wait to get all the spoilers from you (you will tell me, right? I am your mother after all!) Wow, wow, wow! See you at the White Lotus! #proudmomalert."