Tom Felton’s Reprise Brings Fresh Magic to Broadway

Tom Felton's unforgettable and instantly recognizable character brings heartwarming nostalgia to "Harry Potter and the Cursed Child" on Broadway. Photo courtesy of Rhii Photography via Flickr

Tom Felton has brought Draco Malfoy from the screen to the stage as he recently joined Broadway’s cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child for a run that began Nov. 11 and will continue until May 10, 2026.

Performed at the Lyric Theater in New York City, the play follows Harry Potter’s son, Albus, who forms an unexpected bond with Scorpius Malfoy, the child Draco is struggling to raise under the shadow of a legacy. 

Felton’s return to the Harry Potter universe shows how theater and film are storytelling platforms that feed into each other and allow franchises to continuously grow. A character’s arc can unfold over decades, reshaped by the same or different performers in a new medium. 

This lets audiences revisit the stories they grew up with, not through a screen this time, but with actors transforming them into real, living moments just a few feet away. Now the same age as Draco in the story, Felton creates a full-circle moment for both the franchise and the fans who grew up with him. 

In an interview on the Today show, Felton said, “It’s very much a pinch-me situation, 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.”

Draco’s growth is embodied through Felton’s lived maturity. Audiences are witnessing an evolution that can only occur when an actor returns to a role from a new point in their own life. 

Felton, too, reflected on how meaningful it felt to return as Draco Malfoy. 

“When they put my blond wig on for the theater production, I just immediately cried. It was just sort of like a blast from the past,” he said. “It was something that I never thought I’d see again.”

Millions of people grew up reading the Harry Potter books, watching the films and engaging in fan communities that still exist across TikTok, YouTube, conventions, podcasts and collectible culture. 

Fans have proven their dedication to the universe through sold-out screenings and countless wizarding attractions, merchandise and events. This fanbase is experienced in investing deeply in a fictional world. A member of the original cast debuting in a live version of this world is sure to attract fans from near and far.

Longtime Harry Potter fan Katie Mandeville ‘27 said, “I think it is absolutely amazing that Tom is returning to Broadway for this role. It’s always really special seeing actors play their iconic roles again, and it feels extremely nostalgic.”

Entertainment thrives through cross-media storytelling. Most content has now been expanded across books, movies, television shows, theme park attractions and theater adaptations. Felton’s return is an example of a shift in how fandoms and theater may interact. For many audience members who have never purchased a Broadway ticket, the pull of a film star in a familiar universe provides a great starting point into a newfound interest in live theater.

And this phenomenon isn’t just for Hogwarts fans. Broadway’s 2024-25 season has seen a new surge of television and film names stepping into iconic roles onstage. Previously, Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor played lovers in “Romeo + Juliet,” and Milo Manheim, best known for Disney’s “Zombies” franchise, joined “Little Shop of Horrors” as Seymour. 

Currently, Meg Donnelly, “Zombies” co-star, is starring as Satine in “Moulin Rouge! The Musical.” These performers bring built-in fanbases, often younger than the traditional Broadway demographic. 

Fans who come for their favorite movie or TV star are suddenly immersed in a beautiful stage production, live vocals and the excitement of performance. That exposure is invaluable for Broadway.

For hardcore theater fans, casting big names as their beloved Broadway characters might feel threatening. However, those stars bring in fresh audiences who might become loyal supporters of Broadway.