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 sharing his thoughts on who should step into his shoes as Lucius Malfoy in HBO's eagerly anticipated Harry Potter TV series. In a candid interview with Variety, centered around his work on The White Lotus, Isaacs threw a surprising 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, an actress known for her versatility, has previously taken on male roles, notably in the HBO miniseries adaptation of the epic play Angels in America, where she portrayed an elderly male rabbi among other characters. This experience suggests that she could indeed bring a unique flair to the role of Lucius Malfoy.
However, Isaacs isn't planning on 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 mused. "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, the casting news remains sparse, with only one confirmed role at the time of this article's publication.
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John Lithgow is set to take on the iconic role of Albus Dumbledore, a character previously portrayed by Richard Harris and Michael Gambon, in the new series. Rumors are swirling about other key roles, with Black Mirror's Paapa Essiedu reportedly in talks to play Severus Snape, a role originally filled by the late Alan Rickman, and Jessica Jones star Janet McTeer potentially stepping into the shoes of Minerva McGonagall, a role famously played by Maggie Smith. However, these casting decisions are yet to be officially confirmed.
