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

Thailand may be a world away from the magical halls of Hogwarts, but that hasn't stopped Jason Isaacs, star of The White Lotus Season 3, from weighing in on who should succeed him as Lucius Malfoy in the upcoming HBO Harry Potter TV series. In a recent interview with Variety centered on his work in The White Lotus, Isaacs threw an unexpected name into the ring: Meryl Streep.

"Meryl Streep," Isaacs declared confidently. "She can do anything, that woman. There’s literally no limit to what she can do." Streep has previously showcased her versatility by portraying a male character, an elderly rabbi, in the HBO miniseries adaptation of the epic play Angels in America. Given her track record, it's not hard to imagine her bringing Lucius Malfoy to life with equal skill.

Despite his endorsement, Isaacs isn't offering any advice to Streep or any other potential Lucius Malfoy. "I wouldn’t have any advice at all. Why would I bother?" he remarked. "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 the screen 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 confirmed at the time of this article's publication.

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John Lithgow has been cast as Albus Dumbledore, a role originally filled by Richard Harris and later by Michael Gambon. Casting for other key roles, such as Severus Snape, originally played by Alan Rickman, and Minerva McGonagall, originally played by Maggie Smith, seems to be nearing completion. Rumors suggest Black Mirror star Paapa Essiedu might take on the role of Snape, while Jessica Jones star Janet McTeer is reportedly in the running for McGonagall. However, no official announcements have been made regarding these roles yet.