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

Thailand might 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 step into his iconic shoes as Lucius Malfoy in HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter TV series. In a candid interview with Variety, Isaacs threw a surprising name into the ring: "Meryl Streep," he suggested, highlighting her unparalleled versatility in the acting world.

"She can do anything, that woman. There’s literally no limit to what she can do," Isaacs praised. Streep, known for her transformative roles, has previously taken on male characters, notably in the HBO miniseries adaptation of Angels in America, where she played an elderly male rabbi among other roles. Given her track record, Streep could indeed bring a fresh and intriguing interpretation to Lucius Malfoy.

However, Isaacs isn't offering any advice to Streep or anyone else who might take on the role. "I wouldn’t have any advice at all. Why would I bother?" he remarked. Confident in the new cast, he added, "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 decision has been confirmed so far.

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John Lithgow is set to take on the role of Albus Dumbledore, a character previously portrayed by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon. Rumors are swirling about other key roles, with Black Mirror's Paapa Essiedu reportedly in talks to play Severus Snape, originally brought to life by Alan Rickman, and Jessica Jones' Janet McTeer potentially stepping into the shoes of Minerva McGonagall, famously played by Maggie Smith. However, no official confirmations have been made for these roles yet.