Summary
Harry Pottercemented most of his cast members' careers. However, one Harry Potter star claimed that another project did the opposite.
Harry Potteris one of the most successful franchises in cinematic history. It is critically and commercially acclaimed, serving as a career launchpad for young actors like Daniel Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley),Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy), Matthew Lewis (Neville Longbottom), and Evanna Lynch (Luna Lovegood). The movie series also features well-established British stars like Alan Rickman (Severus Snape), Ralph Fiennes (Voldemort), Helena Bonham Carter (Bellatrix Lestrange), and Jason Isaacs (Lucius Malfoy). One of them shared how another “beautiful” project allegedly ruined their career.
Isaacs appeared on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’sDinner’s On Mepodcast. During his appearance, he shared the time when his career was at a low point while recounting his experience in the 2003 adventure filmPeter Pan, directed by P.J. Hogan. In the film, Isaacs played two characters —Captain Hookand Mr. George Darling. While he described the project as “beautiful,” it underperformed at the box office, and it reportedly caused some issues for the cast and crew. It appeared that they were not paid because, according to him, he only “took home five and a half cents and a bubblegum wrapper.” However, based on his statement, the flopped movie did not only affect them financially, but it reportedly “destroyed” their careers. “And it destroyed everybody’s career,” he shared, before adding:
It was all over for everybody. I couldn’t get a walk-on on CSI: Hendon. I was thinking, ‘I need plastic surgery. I’ve got to go. I’ve got to go back to law.’ It was terrible.
Despite the outcome, Isaacs has no regrets about being part of the project. It reportedly made him feel “grounded,” and he wasn’t invested in its success. In a separate interview withFilmSpeakin 2021, theHarry Potterstar shared a similar comment. According to him, people were very excited about the film and were expecting it to be a hit. Some mentioned the Oscars, and others told him he would “never fly commercial again.” However, he was only 40 at the time and wasn’t keen on the things he heard, which he described as “nonsense.” So when the film underperformed at the box office, Isaacs wasn’t very affected because he didn’t believe the stuff he heard before its release. Also, he enjoyed his time filming in Australia and he loved the process and the kids he worked with.
AlthoughPeter Panwasn’t a massive commercial hit, it showcasedIsaacs’s range and versatility as an actorbecause of his dual role. It solidifies his image as a go-to actor for playing villains because his charming and menacing take on the antagonist, Captain Hook, won the audience’s hearts. He infused Captain Hook with flamboyance, sophistication, and cruelty, and his commanding presence and dramatic energy effectively conveyed a tragic figure cloaked in villainy. Captain Hook was even considered by many to be among the film’s highlights. Isaacs showed a completely different persona as Mr. Darling. He is a stiff, anxious Victorian father who is very concerned with his social status, order, and propriety. He is also grounded, serious, and emotionally repressed. Hook, with his swaggering arrogance and comic cruelty, is the nightmare version of Mr. Darling. Isaacs masterfully delivers his dual role, and regardless of the film’s performance, the film is a testament to his versatility as an actor.
