Though Thailand is a world away from the magical halls of Hogwarts, Jason Isaacs, star of The White Lotus Season 3, has shared his unique perspective on who should take on his iconic role of Lucius Malfoy in HBO's forthcoming Harry Potter TV series. In a candid conversation with Variety centered on his latest project, Isaacs threw an unexpected name into the ring: Meryl Streep.
"Meryl Streep," Isaacs declared confidently. "She can do anything, that woman. There's literally no limit to what she can do." Streep's versatility is well-documented; she notably portrayed a male character in the HBO miniseries adaptation of the epic play Angels in America, playing an elderly male rabbi among other roles. With such range, there's little doubt she could bring Lucius Malfoy to life with her signature flair.
Meryl Streep. Photo by Christopher Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty Images.
Despite his bold casting suggestion, Isaacs remains hands-off when it comes to advice for whoever steps into his shoes. "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 the screen 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 series, only one casting has been confirmed at the time of this article's publication.
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John Lithgow is set to portray Albus Dumbledore, a role previously filled by Richard Harris and then Michael Gambon. The casting for other key characters, such as Severus Snape and Minerva McGonagall, remains in the final stages. Black Mirror's Paapa Essiedu is reportedly nearing confirmation for the role of Snape, originally played by Alan Rickman, while Jessica Jones star Janet McTeer is said to be close to securing the role of McGonagall, initially portrayed by Maggie Smith. However, these castings have yet to be officially confirmed.
