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Tuesday, November 18, 2025
Tom Felton causes Broadway standstill with massive reception to Harry Potter and the Cursed Child debut
The Independent: Tom Felton received an immense reception on Tuesday as he returned to the role of Draco Malfoy on Broadway’s Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.
Felton joined the popular play’s cast at the Lyric Theatre in New York City, marking his Broadway debut.
4 comments:
Eliana Stevens
said...
I am not as familiar with the Harry Potter franchise as most people my age. I understand that this franchise has meant so much to so many people, giving them an escape from reality to this made-up universe with magic, hope, and friendship. I always think that it is cool and fun when a star first steps out on stage, and the audience reacts so loudly and for so long that the show actually stops and pauses. Some people might see it as an interruption and disrespectful, and I can understand their point of view, but I think it can also be an honor, this crowd is cheering so long and so loudly because this actors art and performance was so monumental and meant so much to them as a child that to this day years later it still means just as much to them as the first time they watched the films.
Harry Potter will always be a comfort story to me. As long as I can remember, my family has been a Harry Potter family, in the sense that we've read all the books and always had the movies on. This story is one that is made-believe, but can still connect to people and their stories. The idea of the story continuing with the trio's kids attending Hogwarts is a smart way to keep the fandom's audience entertained and eager to see the show. I think it was a smart casting and marketing move for the show to cast Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy because it brings attention to the show, which has been on Broadway for a while. This will increase ticket sales and allow for the popularity of this show to recur. Also, Tom Felton has made it clear that he would love to do more with the Harry Potter universe and that he is still connected to his character, Draco, unlike Emma Stone or Daniel Radcliffe. These two both appreciate the films, but have moved on in their career. It seems like this marketing trick is continuing to happen with shows that have been on Broadway for a decent amount of time. For example, Hamilton brought back Leslie Odom Jr. to revisit his role as Aaron Burr, which created a ticket sale increase.
This might be my favorite stunt casting to ever exist. I think it is absolutely a brilliant idea to have Tom Felton reprise his role. It is such a rare occurrence for a stage play to have an adaptation where it is even possible to have the original cast members return in their same role. Most of the adaptations that are on Broadway currently are either prequels or exist in the same timeline as the original story, not leaving any room for the original actors to age. It is remarkable that Tom Felton is the exact age that Draco Malfoy is in this script. The real life character grew up and still exists. It must also be surreal for Tom Felton, as he spent a decade of his life as this character. I have such a special place in my heart for the places and things I was doing in my formative years and I can imagine that Tom feels the same way.
Tom Felton is one of those actors who just lives in the one role they had as a kid that made them famous and not gonna like it works for him every time. My friends brother is currently touring with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and got to meet him and he is apparently a really nice guy. I think it is very fitting for Tom Felton to be playing Draco Malfoy again. Many may feel like it’s a cop out but I feel like it is very fitting for this production. I had been a Harry Potter fan for a long time and I was actually really happy when I first found out about Tom Felton reprising this role and it seems like he has brought a little more fame money into Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, since undoubtedly many people probably went specifically to see him, especially any diehard Draco Malfoy fans.
4 comments:
I am not as familiar with the Harry Potter franchise as most people my age. I understand that this franchise has meant so much to so many people, giving them an escape from reality to this made-up universe with magic, hope, and friendship. I always think that it is cool and fun when a star first steps out on stage, and the audience reacts so loudly and for so long that the show actually stops and pauses. Some people might see it as an interruption and disrespectful, and I can understand their point of view, but I think it can also be an honor, this crowd is cheering so long and so loudly because this actors art and performance was so monumental and meant so much to them as a child that to this day years later it still means just as much to them as the first time they watched the films.
Harry Potter will always be a comfort story to me. As long as I can remember, my family has been a Harry Potter family, in the sense that we've read all the books and always had the movies on. This story is one that is made-believe, but can still connect to people and their stories. The idea of the story continuing with the trio's kids attending Hogwarts is a smart way to keep the fandom's audience entertained and eager to see the show. I think it was a smart casting and marketing move for the show to cast Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy because it brings attention to the show, which has been on Broadway for a while. This will increase ticket sales and allow for the popularity of this show to recur. Also, Tom Felton has made it clear that he would love to do more with the Harry Potter universe and that he is still connected to his character, Draco, unlike Emma Stone or Daniel Radcliffe. These two both appreciate the films, but have moved on in their career. It seems like this marketing trick is continuing to happen with shows that have been on Broadway for a decent amount of time. For example, Hamilton brought back Leslie Odom Jr. to revisit his role as Aaron Burr, which created a ticket sale increase.
This might be my favorite stunt casting to ever exist. I think it is absolutely a brilliant idea to have Tom Felton reprise his role. It is such a rare occurrence for a stage play to have an adaptation where it is even possible to have the original cast members return in their same role. Most of the adaptations that are on Broadway currently are either prequels or exist in the same timeline as the original story, not leaving any room for the original actors to age. It is remarkable that Tom Felton is the exact age that Draco Malfoy is in this script. The real life character grew up and still exists. It must also be surreal for Tom Felton, as he spent a decade of his life as this character. I have such a special place in my heart for the places and things I was doing in my formative years and I can imagine that Tom feels the same way.
Tom Felton is one of those actors who just lives in the one role they had as a kid that made them famous and not gonna like it works for him every time. My friends brother is currently touring with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and got to meet him and he is apparently a really nice guy. I think it is very fitting for Tom Felton to be playing Draco Malfoy again. Many may feel like it’s a cop out but I feel like it is very fitting for this production. I had been a Harry Potter fan for a long time and I was actually really happy when I first found out about Tom Felton reprising this role and it seems like he has brought a little more fame money into Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, since undoubtedly many people probably went specifically to see him, especially any diehard Draco Malfoy fans.
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