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Tom Felton best known for his role as Draco Malfoy, gushed over the Harry Potter film series while addressing the long ongoing controversy surrounding author J.K. Rowling’s controversial comments.
Speaking to Variety at the 2025 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 8, Felton was asked whether the backlash toward Rowling affects his connection to the franchise.
“No, I can't say it does,” he responded. “I'm not really that attuned.”
Felton added, “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 is preparing to return to the Harry Potter universe on a different stage — literally.
He’s set to make his Broadway debut in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child at New York City’s Lyric Theatre. His limited 19-week run begins on November 11. The play, written by Jack Thorne, picks up 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
Reflecting on his return to the role of Draco, Felton spoke about the enduring strength of the Harry Potter community.
“I think we all thought the wizarding world would slowly… that the fandom flame might douse over the years, but clearly it's not,” he told Variety.
Comparing stage work to filming, he said, “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 has remained a polarizing figure since June 2020, when she posted tweets that were widely criticized as anti-transgender.
Since then, she’s made repeated remarks about the transgender community. Several cast members from the original film series, including Daniel Radcliffe, have publicly disagreed with her.
Radcliffe, who played Harry Potter, recently told The Atlantic in April 2024 that he hasn’t been in contact with the author and that her comments made him feel “really sad.”
