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 succeed him as Lucius Malfoy in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series. In a recent interview with Variety, centered around his work on The White Lotus, Isaacs playfully suggested Meryl Streep for the role.

"She can do anything, that woman. There’s literally no limit to what she can do," Isaacs remarked, praising Streep's versatility. It's worth noting that Streep has previously taken on male roles, most notably in the HBO miniseries adaptation of the epic play Angels in America, where she played an elderly male rabbi among other characters. Given her track record, stepping into the shoes of Lucius Malfoy might just be another feather in her cap.

Meryl Streep. Photo by Christopher Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty Images.

Despite his suggestion, Isaacs has no advice to offer to whoever ultimately takes on the role. "I wouldn’t have any advice at all. Why would I bother?" he quipped. He expressed confidence in the casting choices 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 upcoming adaptation, only one casting has been officially confirmed at the time of this writing.

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12 ImagesJohn Lithgow is set to take on the iconic role of Albus Dumbledore, previously portrayed by Richard Harris and then Michael Gambon. The roles of professors Severus Snape, originally played by Alan Rickman, and Minerva McGonagall, originally played by Maggie Smith, are close to being cast. Rumors suggest that Paapa Essiedu, known from Black Mirror, may soon be confirmed as Snape, while Janet McTeer, famous from Jessica Jones, is reportedly in the running for McGonagall, though no official announcements have been made yet.