Harry Potterfranchise star Jason Isaacs recalls having to tell a woman to cover herself up after an awkward autograph request. Based on the book series by J.K. Rowling, the hit Warner Bros. fantasy franchise began withHarry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stonein 2001, with Harry’s story culminating in 2011 withHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. Isaacs joined theHarry Pottercastas Lucius Malfoy in the second movie in 2002 and appeared in most of the sequels, serving as Draco’s strict father and one of Voldemort’s Death Eaters.
In a recent interview withThe Telegraph, Isaacs shares one extremeHarry Potterfan story, recalling thatone woman wanted him to sign her breasts. The incident occurred atThe Wizarding World of Harry Pottertheme park at Universal Orlando, and the actor remembers having to ask the fan to cover her chest up during the encounter due to the all-ages nature of the park. Check out Isaacs' recollection of the event below:
I remember being in Harry Potter World in Orlando [The Wizarding World of Harry Potter], and the whole cast had gone. We’d been in blazing heat, signing autographs and taking selfies, and right at the end a woman standing there goes, “Will you sign my breasts?” and shot open her shirt. I go, “Madam, please stop. There’s kids everywhere.” She goes, “I have eight kids.” I said, “Well, what would they say?” They were standing alongside her going, “Sign them, sign them!”
That’s the amusing worst. The actual worst I’ve had is stalkers. Proper stalkers. Court cases and people dragged away outside my house by police and dogs. When I sawBaby Reindeer, I thought “I should have written it first.”
What Jason Isaacs' Story Means For The Harry Potter Franchise
Sometimes Fandom Goes Too Far
It’s now been 24 years since the firstHarry Pottermoviewas released, but Isaacs' story speaks to the enduring love for the franchise from audiences even after all this time. Even though theFantastic Beastsmovies weren’t as well-received,the original eight films were all successful both critically and commercially, and they continue to occupy an important place in the world of pop culture.
The Rise & Fall Of Lucius Malfoy: The Harry Potter Character’s History Explained
Lucius Malfoy went through quite the fall from grace in Harry Potter, and his traumatic decline got its start long before Voldemort’s downfall.
While this enduring love is a promising sign for the upcomingHarry PotterTV showin the works at HBO, Isaacs' story also speaks to the darker side of franchise fandom. Even though the majority of Isaacs' fan encounters were probably positive, the negative experiences that he describes above are proof that fandom can go too far. This obviously reaches extreme levels when it comes to stalking and matters of personal safety, andIsaacs' story certainly suggests that the franchise’s main stars, Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, likely endured similar experiences.
How The Harry Potter TV Show Will Be Different From The Movies
Issacs' Story Highlights One Key Problem The Show Faces
Max’sHarry PotterTV show is set to adapt the seven main books in Rowling’s series, with one season per book. It’s been teased that each season will be roughly eight hours in length, presumably meaning each will consist of eight episodes. One key difference between the show and the movies will be the faithfulness of the adaptation, and Warner Bros. TV Group’s chairman and CEO toldVarietylast October that the show will go “morein depth” than the movies could with their two-hour runtimes. “That’s the whole reason we’re on this journey,” he told the publication.
Though younger audiences who haven’t seen the movies aren’t likely to care, it could be challenging for theHarry PotterTV show’s cast to win over long-time fans.
TheHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2endingbrought the franchise to a close 14 years ago, which isn’t really all that long.The films, after all, still hold up from a storytelling and an effects standpoint, meaning there’s nothing to prevent younger audiences from watching and enjoying them. And for the older audiences who grew up as the films were releasing, the movies are likely seen as the definitive adaption of this story. Plus, Isaacs' story speaks to just how much love there is for this particular iteration of the cast.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
80%
82%
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
90%
86%
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
88%
74%
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
78%
81%
Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
83%
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1
77%
85%
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2
96%
89%
One major hurdle the show will face will be filling the shoes of the originalHarry Potteractors. The performances from originalstars like Isaacs, Michael Gambon, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Tom Felton, and, of course, Radcliffe, Watson, and Grint, set a high bar. Though younger audiences who haven’t seen the movies aren’t likely to care, it could be challenging for theHarry PotterTV show’s castto win over long-time fans.The key selling point of the show is really its faithfulness over the movies, and this could make up for casting concerns.
No official casting announcements have arrived for theHarry PotterTV show just yet, butDeadlinerecently reported that actorJohn Lithgow is in final talks to play Dumbledore. Paapa Essiedu is reported to be in talks for the role of Snape.
Our Take On Isaacs' Harry Potter Fan Encounter
Isaacs Was A Great Lucius Malfoy
Though this fan clearly took her enthusiasm too far,Isaacs' portrayal of Lucius Malfoywas evidently a highlight of theHarry Potterfranchise. Lucius features relatively sparingly in the eight movies, appearing more prominently in the later installments, but Isaacs always makes the character pop. While Lucius starts out as a fairly one-dimensional villain,Isaacs brings the character’s inner humanity and fear to the surface in later movies, adding nuance to the dangerous Malfoy family patriarch. Even though Lucius never becomes a character to root for, he does become more empathetic.
With theHarry PotterTV show set to introduce an entirely new cast for all the franchise’s characters, it’s unlikely that audiences will be seeing Isaacs back as Lucius. It remains to be seen who will be next to play the memorable Malfoy character, but Isaacs' story certainly suggests that the next generation of actors joining the franchise will have to watch out for some wild fan encounters.
