When is Tom Felton set to reprise Draco Malfoy in Broadway’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child? Actor addresses J.K. Rowling controversy

Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, is set to reprise the role on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. During the Tony Awards, held on Sunday, June 8, 2025, the actor discussed his upcoming role with Variety.

The Broadway production is based on a book of the same name by author J.K. Rowling. Felton's show will start on November 11 and run for 19 weeks, ending in March 2026.

It is not the only adaptation of the beloved children's novel. Rowling and HBO have teamed up for a TV show revival of the original books. However, most of the conversation surrounding Harry Potter centers around Rowling and her criticism of the transgender rights movement.

When questioned if Rowling's controversial takes have impacted his work, Felton stated he didn't think so, adding that he wasn't attuned to the "conversations" surrounding the subject. However, he added,

"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."

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"The most exciting part is to do it live"—Tom Felton about his Broadway debut as Draco Malfoy

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child is a play written by J.K. Rowling. It takes place 19 years after the end of the original heptalogy (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows), with the lead characters as parents who send their kids to Hogwarts. This includes Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as well as Draco.

Talking to Variety, Tom Felton noted that despite the years, the "fandom flame" is yet to be "doused." He continued to elaborate on the differences between shooting a film and working on a play, stating,

"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."

The English actor added that he was excited to learn the ins and outs of live production as compared to working with green screens on films. Notably, Cursed Child marks Tom Felton's debut on Broadway, as well as the first time an original cast member will join the production's cast.

According to Entertainment Weekly, Tom Felton expressed his excitement at being cast in the play, saying it was a huge part of his "childhood" and felt like going back to "high school." He elaborated that it was a "full-circle moment" for him, adding that Draco in the play would be the same age as him.

The production will be directed by John Tiffany (of Once and Black Watch fame), with Sonia Friedman and Colin Callender being producers. Since its conception, the play has sold over 11 million tickets worldwide and won six Tony Awards, including Best Play, according to Fox 59.

Cast members from the Harry Potter films—Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Bonnie Wright, and Eddie Redmayne—have called Rowling out for her anti-trans crusade. However, others like Warwick Davis and John Lithgow (part of the upcoming HBO show) have taken a neutral stance like Tom Felton.

Notably, Felton echoed the sentiments during his 2022 interview with the Times. At the time, he similarly refused to comment on the politics but praised J.K. Rowling for "single-handedly" creating a fictional universe that has brought "joy to so many different generations and walks of life."

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Tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child will go on sale this Thursday (June 12).