Tom Felton cast a spell on Broadway.
The Harry Potter star received a thunderous welcome as he stepped back into the role of Draco Malfoy for the first time in 14 years during a performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York. The historic moment was shared on the show’s official Instagram page on November 12.
Fans erupted into cheers and applause for a full 30 seconds before Felton, 38, even spoke his first line: “I need a favour.”
The emotional moment was shared online, with the production captioning the video, “It’s true then, what they’re saying on the train,” echoing one of Draco’s iconic lines from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.
Fans flooded the comments with love and nostalgia. “This moment was truly amazing to see! So glad to be a part of history with this one! Tom exceeded my expectations,” one wrote.
Another added, “Well deserved cheers for THE ONE & ONLY Draco Malfoy,” while a third praised his professionalism, noting, “He deserved that and the way he stayed in character.”
The show’s account later shared another poignant image of Felton standing alone on stage before the performance began, captioned, “Welcome home, Tom.”
Felton’s return was first announced in June, and the actor admitted it was a deeply emotional experience. “It’s very, very easy to get emotional,” he told Deadline. “When they put my blond wig on for the theatre production, I just immediately cried. It was just sort of like a blast from the past.”
“As much as it is reprising an old role for me, it’s very much treading into new, unfamiliar territory,” he added. “I know him quite well as a kid. I don’t know him that well as an adult.”
Felton was only 13 years old in the first Harry Potter film in 2001, making him slightly older than his castmates, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. Though the latter three have since distanced themselves from the wizarding world, Felton has long remained open about his love for the franchise.
