Jason Isaacs hypes up new Lucius Malfoy actor in the Harry Potter series

HBO revealed the next round of casting for the new Harry Potter series earlier this week, and one of the original stars is already weighing in. The announcement contains a mix of characters, adding new adults and children to the cast.

Bel Powley as Petunia Dursley, Daniel Rigby as Vernon Dursley, Katherine Parkinson as Molly Weasley, Bertie Carvel as Cornelius Fudge, and Johnny Flynn as Lucius Dursley join the previously confirmed adult characters. The announcement included Hogwarts students Lox Pratt as Draco Malfoy, Sienna Moosah as Lavender Brown, Alessia Leoni as Parvati Patil, and Leo Earley as Seamus Finnigan, adding more Gryffindors and a lone Slytherin into the mix alongside the new Golden Trio.

The original Lucius Malfoy, Jason Isaacs, took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share his thoughts on passing "the snake-topped baton" to Flynn as he reshared the casting announcement, with nothing but kind words to say.

"A fantastic actor, a lovely man and, irritatingly, a rather brilliant musician too."

Flynn is known for his role as Dylan Witter in Netflix's Lovesick. Audiences might also know him from the 2024 miniseries Ripley as Dickie Greenleaf or from the movies The Dig, Emma, and One Life.

The actor also has quite a music career, lending his voice to soundtracks for his projects and six of his own albums. It's for that reason that Isaacs ends his thoughts with the hope that the Malfoy patriarch won't be singing in the new series.

HBO has not made any mention of the show being musical, and the stage production Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is not a musical, so the chances are high that audiences won't hear a singing Lucius anytime soon, though it could give new depth to the character while utilizing the actor's talents.

In the hashtags of his Tweet, Isaacs gave a bit of cheeky advice to Flynn in what many might consider a kick in the gut:

"#HarryPotter #JohnnyFlynn #KillTheElfEarly"

Isaacs is referring to Dobby, a Malfoy family House Elf who Harry secured the freedom of when he hid a sock in Tom Riddle's diary before giving it back Lucius Malfoy. Dobby's death is one of the most difficult to swallow in the books, as he dies while saving Harry, Ron, Hermione, Griphook, and Luna Lovegood from the Malfoy Manner in Deathly Hallows.

There are plenty more cast members to confirm as the show heads into production this summer, including other Weasley siblings like Fred and George, Gryffindor Neville Longbottom, and Hogwarts staff members like Professor Flitwick and Madam Hooch. Stay tuned as we keep you informed on all the casting and production news for the new Harry Potter series.