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

Thailand may be a world away from Hogwarts, but Jason Isaacs, star of The White Lotus Season 3, still has a strong opinion on who should step into his shoes as Lucius Malfoy in HBO's upcoming Harry Potter TV series. In a recent interview with Variety, the What If...? voice actor suggested none other than Meryl Streep for the iconic role.

"She can do anything, that woman. There’s literally no limit to what she can do," Isaacs praised Streep. The acclaimed actress has previously portrayed a male character in the HBO miniseries adaptation of the play Angels in America, where she played an elderly rabbi among other roles, showcasing her versatility. This experience suggests that Streep could indeed bring a unique interpretation to Lucius Malfoy.

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

Despite his strong endorsement, Isaacs is not one to offer unsolicited advice. "I wouldn’t have any advice at all. Why would I bother?" he remarked. He expressed confidence in the casting choices for the new series, mentioning that he knows some of the actors involved and believes they will do a fantastic job.

Isaacs first portrayed Lucius Malfoy in the second Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, and continued to play the character through to the final film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. As for the upcoming TV adaptation, only one casting has been officially confirmed at the time of this writing.

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12 ImagesJohn Lithgow is set to star as Albus Dumbledore, a role originally portrayed by Richard Harris and later by Michael Gambon, in the upcoming series. The casting for other key roles, such as Severus Snape, originally played by Alan Rickman, and Minerva McGonagall, originally played by Maggie Smith, appears to be nearing completion. Black Mirror star Paapa Essiedu is reportedly close to being cast as Snape, while Jessica Jones star Janet McTeer is allegedly in talks to play McGonagall, though these roles have not been officially confirmed yet.