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 HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series. In a recent interview with Variety, Isaacs threw his support behind none other than Meryl Streep.

"Meryl Streep," Isaacs declared, praising the actress's versatility. "She can do anything, that woman. There’s literally no limit to what she can do." Streep has previously showcased her range by playing a man in the HBO miniseries adaptation of the epic play Angels in America, where she portrayed an elderly male rabbi among other characters. Given her track record, there's little doubt she could masterfully take on the role of Lucius Malfoy.

Despite his strong endorsement, Isaacs isn't keen on offering advice to whoever steps into his former role. "I wouldn’t have any advice at all. Why would I bother?" he remarked. He expressed confidence in the casting decisions already made, 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 confirmed so far: John Lithgow will take on the iconic role of Albus Dumbledore, previously played by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon.

Rumors are swirling about other potential castings, with Black Mirror's Paapa Essiedu reportedly in talks to play Severus Snape, originally portrayed by Alan Rickman, and Jessica Jones star Janet McTeer possibly stepping into the shoes of Minerva McGonagall, originally played by Maggie Smith. However, these roles have yet to be officially confirmed.

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