Washington, DC [US], June 9: Actor Tom Felton, best known for playing Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter film series (2001–2011), has addressed the ongoing controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling’s views on transgender issues. Felton’s comments came ahead of his Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, where he will reprise his iconic role.
During the 2025 Tony Awards, Felton responded to whether Rowling’s controversial statements had impacted his work.
“No, I can’t say it does,” he said, adding, “I’m not really that attuned.” He continued, “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. So I’m incredibly grateful.”
Felton will take over the role of adult Draco Malfoy from Aaron Bartz at New York City’s Lyric Theatre, starting November 11, 2025, for a 19-week run. This marks the first time any actor from the original Harry Potter movies has starred in the stage adaptation.
Describing the opportunity as surreal, Felton shared:
“It’s very much a pinch-me kind of situation. I keep thinking I’m dreaming. I let go of that character 16 years ago, and now getting a chance to step back into his shoes — as a father this time, in a new story — I get to meet Draco as an adult, which is very exciting.”
He also revealed an emotional moment while preparing for the role:
“I cried” upon donning Draco’s iconic platinum wig again, reflecting on how deeply the franchise shaped his childhood.
“I’ve been very excited to share this news, and I had to keep it under wraps for quite a while,” he told People.
While speaking with Variety, Felton praised the enduring power of the franchise.
“I think we all thought the wizarding world would slowly… that the fandom flame might douse over the years, but it’s not.”
On the differences between film and stage, he noted:
“I think 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 lovely, new, tight story. And I get to be a dad, which has been fun.”
Rowling became a polarizing figure in June 2020 after making a series of tweets viewed as anti-transgender. Her repeated comments since have drawn criticism from many, including Daniel Radcliffe, who publicly expressed sadness over her stance and confirmed they have not been in contact.
Despite the division, Felton shared that Radcliffe has been supportive.
“My old school chum, Potter, [Daniel] Radcliffe, has done quite a bit of Broadway, so he’s holding my hand and certainly helping me through all the things that are hard to learn,” he said, adding, “The fans are really, really gracious and excited. So I’m just thrilled to be part of it.”