For my generation of Potterheads at least, growing up with the Harry Potter series meant more than just reading books and watching movies. It meant investing in a world, its characters, and the unforgettable journeys they undertook. Among these characters, one figure consistently captivated me with his complex blend of privilege, insecurity, and eventual reluctant humanity: Draco Malfoy.
And now, in a truly magical turn of events, the actor who brought him so vividly to life, Tom Felton, is set to reprise his iconic role in “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” on Broadway. I actually only watched “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” a few months ago in L.A., so the excitement is at an all-time high for me.
In case you haven’t seen it yet, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” picks up 19 years after the Battle of Hogwarts, exploring the lives of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Draco, as they navigate parenthood and the complexities of their children’s relationships.
Draco Malfoy, in “The Cursed Child,” is a father to Scorpius Malfoy, a character who forms an unlikely, yet pivotal, friendship with Harry’s son, Albus Severus Potter. This mature, more nuanced portrayal of Draco, grappling with his past and striving to be a good father, is a significant departure from the sneering bully of Hogwarts.
Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy
Photo by Manuel Harlan
To be honest, with all of the news swirling around the new Harry Potter series coming up, I’ve been living with a quiet reluctance to let go of the characters I grew up with on screen.
Tom Felton, in particular, has remained etched in my brain as the young, snobbish, silver-haired Slytherin of years past, even as he’s explored diverse roles in his post-Potter career. From “Rise of the Planet of the Apes” to his West End debut in “2:22 A Ghost Story,” Tom Felton has proven his range. Yet, for me, he is still Draco.
The allure of this return isn’t just about nostalgia. It’s about seeing an actor who embodied a character through his formative years step back into those shoes, now as an adult. What’s more, when Tom Felton begins performances at the Lyric Theatre on November 11th, he’ll be the exact age Draco is in the play.
This personal alignment adds an extraordinary layer of authenticity to his performance, promising a depth that only an actor who has literally grown alongside his character can deliver. Imagine the emotional resonance of seeing the actor who once spat “Potter!” with youthful disdain now portraying a father wrestling with his own legacy and his son’s future.
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For Potterheads who have clung to the magic and found it hard to bid farewell to their beloved characters, Tom Felton’s return is a real gift. It’s an opportunity to revisit a familiar face within a new narrative, to see how time and responsibility have shaped a character they thought they knew inside and out. It’s a chance to witness the continued evolution of Draco Malfoy live on stage, brought to life by the very actor who first etched him into our collective imaginations.
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This isn’t merely a casting decision. It’s a testament to the enduring power of the Wizarding World and the profound connection fans have with its inhabitants. Tom Felton’s reprisal of Draco Malfoy on Broadway is poised to be a truly special experience, a tangible link between the past and present of a beloved saga, and an absolute treat for every witch, wizard, and muggle who ever wished for just one more trip back to Hogwarts.
Fingers crossed fate somehow brings me to Broadway this year. Lol. Will you be watching “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” starring Tom Felton?
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