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

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

by Zachary May 14,2025

Thailand may be a world away from the magical realm 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, Isaacs suggested none other than the versatile Meryl Streep for the role. "She can do anything, that woman. There’s literally no limit to what she can do," he praised. Streep, who has previously portrayed a male character in the HBO miniseries Angels in America, could indeed bring a unique flair to the role of Lucius Malfoy.

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

Despite his strong endorsement, Isaacs refrained from offering any advice to Streep or any potential successor. "I wouldn’t have any advice at all. Why would I bother?" he remarked. 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 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, a role originally brought to life by Alan Rickman, and Jessica Jones star Janet McTeer possibly stepping into the shoes of Minerva McGonagall, originally portrayed by Maggie Smith. However, these castings have yet to be officially confirmed.

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