Jason Isaacs Suggests Unexpected Actor for Lucius Malfoy in HBO's Harry Potter Series

Thailand may be a world away from Hogwarts, but that hasn't stopped Jason Isaacs, star of The White Lotus Season 3, from weighing in on who should take over his iconic role as Lucius Malfoy in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series. In a recent interview with Variety, Isaacs made a surprising yet intriguing suggestion: Meryl Streep.

"She can do anything, that woman. There’s literally no limit to what she can do," Isaacs stated, praising Streep's versatility. Notably, Streep has previously portrayed a male character in the HBO miniseries adaptation of the play Angels in America, showcasing her ability to tackle diverse roles. This experience could certainly prepare her for the challenge of playing Lucius Malfoy.

Despite his strong endorsement, Isaacs refrained from offering any advice to potential successors. "I wouldn’t have any advice at all. Why would I bother?" he remarked. He expressed confidence in the new cast, noting, "I know some of the people they’re casting already. They’re brilliant actors. It’s going to be fantastic, and the last thing they need is advice from some old fart like me."

Isaacs first brought Lucius Malfoy to life in the second Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and continued to portray the character through to the final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. As for the new adaptation, only one casting has been officially announced: John Lithgow will take on the role of Albus Dumbledore, previously played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.

Rumors suggest that other key roles are nearing casting decisions. Black Mirror's Paapa Essiedu is reportedly in talks to play Severus Snape, originally portrayed by Alan Rickman, while Jessica Jones star Janet McTeer is said to be close to being cast as Minerva McGonagall, a role previously filled by Maggie Smith. However, these casting choices remain unconfirmed at the time of this article.

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