Draco Returns! JK Rowling Celebrates Tom Felton’s Broadway Debut In "Harry Potter And The Cursed Child"
Tom Felton, known for his iconic portrayal of Draco Malfoy, is stepping back into the persona for the first time in over a decade—this time on the Broadway stage.
The announcement that Felton will join the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the first original cast member from the movie saga to do so, has Potter fans buzzing with excitement and nostalgia.
Felton, now 37, will portray Draco in a play that imagines what happens 19 years after the final battle at Hogwarts. For Felton, it’s more than a job: “Being a part of the Harry Potter films has been one of the greatest honours of my life,” he said, describing the upcoming role as a “full-circle moment” given that he’s now the same age as Draco in the story. In an Instagram teaser, Felton faced the camera and hissed, “Scared, Potter?” confirming that he’s lost none of Draco’s swagger.
A Cultural Moment—and a Personal One
The show’s producers, Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender, are calling Felton’s return a “cultural moment charged with nostalgia, evolution, and emotion.” They’re not wrong. Felton’s presence bridges the gap between the silver-screen saga and the record-breaking stage play, which has sold more than 10 million tickets worldwide since its 2016 debut.
Felton is also the only major castmate who has stood by Harry Potter author JK Rowling in recent years. While stars like Emma Watson and Daniel Radcliffe distanced themselves from Rowling over her outspoken defense of women, Felton has remained graciously supportive. This quiet loyalty hasn’t gone unnoticed by Rowling herself. She took to social media to celebrate Felton’s return to Hogwarts.
Back to Hogwarts—But With Broadway Magic
For those unfamiliar, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child was conceived as a two-part theatrical event that follows Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco as adults grappling with the next generation of Hogwarts studentsparticularly their own children. Written by Jack Thorne, with story contributions from JK Rowling and director John Tiffany, the play explores themes of legacy, regret, and the burden of being a famous wizard’s child.
Its debut in London’s West End captured imaginations and quickly transferred to Broadway in 2018, earning a record-breaking nine Olivier Awards in the UK and six Tony Awards in New York.
Meanwhile, the Harry Potter universe is poised for another expansion, this time on the small screen. Just last week, HBO confirmed the trio of young actors set to lead their much-discussed television adaptation of Rowling’s original books. Marketed as a “faithful retelling,” the series is intended to span a decade, bringing the beloved magical world to a new generation of fans while reimagining the story for a modern audience.
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