Jason Isaacs recalls the “hilarious” Oscar talks for his Peter Pan movie that bombed at the box office, which took an incredible toll on his career. Released in 2003, the Peter Pan movie starred Isaacs in a dual role as Captain Hook and George Darling, alongside a cast that includes Jeremy Sumpter, Richard Briers, Rachel Hurd-Wood, Olivia Williams, Lynn Redgrave, and Ludivine Sagnier. Peter Pan received positive reviews from critics, particularly for Isaacs’ performance, but ended up bombing at the box office, making only $122 million globally against its $130 million budget.

In a recent profile by Vanity Fair, Jason Isaacs reflected on Peter Pan‘s failure and the incredible toll it took on his career. The actor remembered the studio setting aside money for his Oscar campaign, which he found laughable. He was proven right, as Peter Pan bombed at the box office, which severely damaged his career, leaving him virtually unemployable in Hollywood, unable to land even minor roles. Read his full comments below:

I was 40 and I was sober and I had a kid, so I didn’t listen to anything anyone was saying. But they were going, “Get ready. You’ll never sit down and ride on a plane again. Make sure you know who your real friends are now. We’ve got all this money aside for an Oscar budget for you.” I was thinking, I could write this down as a sketch. It’s hilarious.

All of us involved were toxic. I couldn’t get a walk-on in CSI. I couldn’t get a dinner theater job. [I felt my film career had] died on the vine.

What Peter Pan Meant For Jason Isaacs

It Took An Incredible Toll On His Career

Today, Jason Isaacs is best known for his role as Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter, debuting in 2002’s Chamber of Secrets. After joining the franchise, he leveraged his newfound fame into a dual role in 2003’s big-budget Peter Pan movie. Despite receiving praise for his dual performance, Peter Pan bombing at the box office severely damaged his career, and he struggled to land roles afterward. Due to his contract, he was able to continue playing Lucius Malfoy in Harry Potter, reprising his role in Goblet of Fire, Order of the Phoenix, Half-Blood Prince, and Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2.

Instead, Isaacs transitioned to television, a move which, especially at the time, was seen as a major downgrade for actors. His first TV role after Peter Pan was in The West Wing, guest starring in three episodes. Shortly after, he landed the lead role in the Showtime series Brotherhood and starred in the BBC series The State Within, for which he earned his first Golden Globe nomination. Meanwhile, his film career was revived with roles in the indie dramas Nine Lives and Friends With Money.

Our Take On Jason Isaacs’ Career

He’s Almost Fully Recovered From Peter Pan Bombing

More than 20 years later, his career has almost fully recovered from Peter Pan bombing at the box office. Recently, Isaacs landed one of the most coveted jobs in television, starring in The White Lotus season 3. Considering that many of the show’s stars have received Emmy recognition – such as Jennifer Coolidge, Aubrey Plaza, F. Murray Abraham, and more – Isaacs could be headed for his first Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Tim Ratliff, whose world is unraveling as he faces legal trouble stemming from a money laundering scheme.

Source: Vanity Fair