‘Harry Potter' star Tom Felton explains why J.K. Rowling's trans views didn't impact Draco Malfoy return
Tom Felton stands by his decision to return to the 'Harry Potter' franchise despite the J.K. Rowling drama.
The British actor, 37, spoke to Variety at the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday and was asked if Rowling's controversial views on the transgender community affected his decision to reprise his role as Draco Malfoy in Broadway's 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.'
8 Tom Felton attends the 2025 Tony Awards on June 8.
/ SplashNews.com
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'No, I can't say it does,' Felton told the outlet. 'I'm not really that attuned.'
'The only thing I always remind myself is that I've been lucky enough to travel the world — here I am in New York — and I have not seen anything bring the world together more than 'Potter,' and she's responsible for that,' Felton continued. 'So I'm incredibly grateful.'
8 J.K. Rowling attends the 'Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore' premiere in London in March 2022.
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Felton played Draco in all eight 'Harry Potter' movies from 2001 to 2011. He will take on the part for his Broadway debut in 'Cursed Child' at the Lyric Theatre in New York City starting Nov. 11 for 19 weeks.
Felton is the first actor from the original films to perform in the stage production.
8 Tom Felton will play Draco Malfoy again in the 'Harry Potter' show on Broadway.
Instagram/t22felton
8 Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy in 'Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.'
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'It's very much a pinch-me kind of situation,' he said on 'Today' last week.
In his interview with Variety, Felton said, 'The most exciting part is to do it live. It took nine months, more or less, to shoot a film, and this is all compact. This is all reimagined into a very loving, new type of story. And I get to be a dad, which is really fun.'
8 Tom Felton and Daniel Radcliffe in 'Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone.'
Warner Bros.
Rowling's controversial comments about the transgender community have been met with backlash over the last few years. Felton's co-stars Daniel Radcliffe and Emma Watson even spoke out to publicly disagree with her back in 2020.
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Other 'Harry Potter' actors, Eddie Redmayne, Paapa Essiedu and Katie Leung, signed a pro-trans open letter in April after the UK Supreme Court ruled that the terms 'woman' and 'sex' refer strictly to a biological woman and biological sex — which sparked a scathing response from Rowling.
8 Daniel Radcliffe, J.K. Rowling, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint attend the 'Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows Part 2' premiere in London in 2011.
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In a May 3 essay shared on X, Rowling supported the ruling and appeared to call out the movie stars when she referred to 'back-stabbing colleagues' who she said are 'motivated by fear.'
Despite her divisive rhetoric, Rowling is an executive producer on the upcoming 'Harry Potter' TV show.
In April, CEO Casey Bloys promised that the series will not be 'secretly infused' with the author's controversial views.
8 J.K. Rowling in an Instagram photo.
jk_rowling/X
'I think it's pretty clear that those are her personal political views. She's entitled to them,' Bloys said on 'The Town' podcast.
John Lithgow, who will star as Albus Dumbledore in the new 'Harry Potter' series, said he's already received significant backlash for joining the project because of Rowling's views.
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8 John Lithgow at The Olivier Awards 2025 in London.
WireImage
'I thought, 'Why is this a factor at all?' I wonder how J.K. Rowling has absorbed it,' the 'Conclave' actor, 79, said to the Times of London.
He added: 'I suppose at a certain point I'll meet her, and I'm curious to talk to her.'
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