Harry Potter fans aren't loving Tom Felton's return as Draco Malfoy in Cursed Child Broadway show: ‘Let it go already'
Tom Felton is set to re-enter Hogwarts more than a decade after Harry Potter wrapped with its original cast, including Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grin and Emma Watson. On Thursday, Tom, known for playing the silver-blonde menace Draco Malfoy, officially announced that he's making his Broadway debut. He'll reprise the role in the stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. With this, the actor also becomes the first from the original cast to step into the stage version. The announcement also drops at a time when HBO's upcoming Harry Potter reboot is gaining buzz.
The Broadway show in the making has roped in Tom Felton for a 19-week run. The play isn't a remake of the films or books, it picks up the story 19 years after the last Harry Potter movie wrapped. The stage production brings back the adult versions of Harry, Ron, Hermione, and a few others, and shifts focus to their kids, who now walk the Hogwarts halls like their wizarding parents once did, dealing with their own share of struggles and legacy. Tom announced the news on the Today show, calling it both emotional and surreal. 'It's very much a pinch-me situation,' he told hosts Savannah Guthrie and Craig Melvin, adding that the moment they put the blond wig back on during rehearsals, he teared up. 'I keep thinking I'm dreaming. I let go of that character 16 years ago, and now I get to step back into his shoes, as a father this time, in a new story.' But he also admitted that while he knows Draco as a kid inside out, playing the grown-up version is completely new territory.
Also read: Where have you seen new Harry Potter actors Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton before? BBC ties, West End star cast & more
Tom will officially join the cast on November 11, 2025. The Broadway show wraps up on March 22, 2026. With this, he also joins the small club of Hollywood names who have tested Broadway waters, including George Clooney, who recently made his debut with Good Night and Good Luck. The actor called the moment a full-circle one, not just personally, but for Draco's arc too. 'I'm now the exact age Draco is in the play,' he said, adding, 'The play is such an independent story from the 'Potter' films that I grew up with.'
Also read: Harry Potter series will begin filming this summer at Leavesden Studios, all that we know
While Potterheads are buzzing over the surprise announcement, not everyone's on board. Some are thrilled to see Tom Felton back, saying, 'No one does Draco like Tom.' But others are side-eyeing the older version of Draco, arguing it's time he, and anyone else thinking of reprising their Hogwarts days-let it go. 'Tom Felton has aged out of Hogwarts,' one X user commented. 'He looks like Lucius now,' a second user wrote. 'Move on guys already pls,' another user added. However, a few rushed to defend the actor, saying, 'I hate the premise of the Cursed Child story and the fact that it exists, but I'll watch it if Felton is in it.' Another added, 'Wonderful to see you back in the HP universe. I hope you do your best as adult Draco and make fellow Slytherins (including myself—proud Slytherin here) proud to see you back in action!'
Even the Broadway producers, Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender, are super excited. In a joint statement, they said that fans all over the world now have the rare chance to see Tom Felton return to his role, not on a screen, but live on stage. 'Tom's return to Hogwarts bridges generations of fans and breathes new life into a beloved story. We're beyond thrilled to welcome Tom back 'home' but also into a new family: our Broadway company.'
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