Broadway audiences erupted into thunderous celebration as Tom Felton stepped onto the stage in his first performance as the adult Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child on Tuesday evening.
The performer, who portrayed the character throughout the film franchise, was met with sustained cheering and screaming.
The overwhelming reception forced a pause in the production before Felton could deliver his opening words: "I need a favour."
Theatre-goers witnessed an extraordinary moment as the actor returned to the role that defined his early career, marking his debut in the long-running stage production at Broadway's Lyric Theatre.
Tom Felton prompted lengthy cheers from the audience
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The production's official Instagram account documented the historic evening, sharing footage of the audience's enthusiastic response.
The production shared the moment on social media with a caption referencing Malfoy's memorable line from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone: "It's true then, what they're saying on the train."
This quote originally marked the character's first encounter with Harry Potter at Hogwarts.
Audience member Chen Tien captured additional footage showing Felton acknowledging both the crowd and his fellow performers.
The video reveals the actor applauding Aidan Close, who portrays Scorpius Malfoy, before taking a bow to acknowledge the continuing ovation from the audience.
The theatrical moment represents a significant milestone for both Felton and the production, as devoted fans witnessed the beloved antagonist's transformation from schoolboy rival to adult father on the Broadway stage.
When the casting was revealed in June, Felton spoke candidly about the profound impact of returning to the character.
"It's very, very easy to get emotional," he shared at the time.
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Tom Felton reprised his tole as Draco Malfoy
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"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."
The actor acknowledged the unique challenge of portraying an older version of his most famous role.
"As much as it is reprising an old role for me, it's very much treading into new, unfamiliar territory," Felton explained. "I know him quite well as a kid. I don't know him that well as an adult."
His reflections reveal the complexity of revisiting a character after years away from the wizarding world.
The stage production takes place nineteen years following the conclusion of the original series, featuring the next generation of wizards including the offspring of Harry, Ron, Hermione and Draco attending Hogwarts.
Felton has made history as the inaugural performer from the film franchise to join the theatrical cast. The play premiered in London during 2016 before transferring to Broadway two years later.
Tom Felton made his Harry Potter and the Cursed Child debut
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His involvement represents a significant bridge between the cinematic and theatrical interpretations of the wizarding world.
The actor has committed to a limited run of nineteen weeks in the role, offering fans a finite opportunity to witness his interpretation of the mature Malfoy patriarch.
This engagement marks a notable evolution for both the character and the production itself.