Actor Tom Felton revealed he choked back tears on stage after spotting his former Harry Potter co-star Warwick Davis in the audience during his Broadway performance of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in New York.
The 38-year-old actor, who has reprised his film role as Draco Malfoy for the stage production, was surprised by 56-year-old Davis, who played Professor Filius Flitwick in the movie series, during a show in New York that has just been extended for two months.
Felton shared a photograph on social media of the two actors embracing backstage after Davis watched the show, alongside a video clip of them greeting fans who had waited outside the stage door after the performance. He also published a photograph taken inside his dressing room showing a Polaroid image of himself and Davis from the same evening.
Writing on social media, Felton noted that he had a special guest and dear friend come see the show, adding that he nearly cried on stage while saying "Wingardium Leviosa" knowing Davis was watching in the audience.
Broadway debut and stage storyline
The production marks Felton's Broadway debut and represents the first time an actor from the original Harry Potter film cast has reprised their film role in the official stage play. The story takes place 19 years after the events of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, following an adult Draco Malfoy whose son, Scorpius Malfoy, forms a close friendship with Harry Potter's son, Albus Severus Potter, despite the significant history between their fathers.
The backstage reunion follows a similar gesture earlier this year when roles were reversed in March. Felton traveled to support former co-star Daniel Radcliffe at his Broadway production of Every Brilliant Thing.
Radcliffe, who played titular character Harry Potter from 2001 to 2011, beamed as he hugged Felton during the visit. Felton subsequently posted photographs of them together alongside a throwback image from their time filming the movie series, writing in the caption: "Broomsticks to Broadway @brilliantbway @cursedchildus."
Divergent stances on JK Rowling
Felton and Radcliffe have remained good friends despite holding publicly contrasting views regarding Harry Potter creator JK Rowling and her vocal stance on transgender rights. The 61-year-old author has caused controversy around the world with her opposition to the view that gender identity is different from birth sex, leading critics to brand her a trans-exclusionary radical feminist.
In 2020, Radcliffe joined several fellow Harry Potter film stars in hitting out at the author's trans-exclusionary views. Releasing a statement through suicide prevention organisation The Trevor Project, Radcliffe stated that transgender women are women and that any statement to the contrary "erases the identity and dignity of transgender people."
Felton meanwhile has remained on Rowling's side while keeping his stance guarded. He has maintained that he is "not affected or attuned" to the views of the creator, a position that has coincided with his remaining in the franchise.
Reactions to HBO television reboot
The Broadway reunions come as HBO prepares a new Harry Potter adaptation for television. The upcoming series, slated for an early 2026 release date, is set to span seven seasons adapting each of Rowling's books in the series, starring Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley.
Radcliffe recently shared his reaction to seeing photos of the newcomers taking over the roles over a decade after he rose to fame playing the wizard. Speaking on behalf of former co-stars such as Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, Radcliffe spoke about their shared experience with childhood fame and wanting to protect the young performers.
Speaking to People, Radcliffe said: "We have all said, you know, you just see pictures of these kids and you just want to grab them and hug them. That's the impulse that I think that we, mainly, all have." He revealed he has been in touch with Rupert and Emma, and that the trio discussed "how surreal [it is] to watch people starting off on that journey, all those years later."
Radcliffe starred in the first movie in the film series at age 11, playing the role for a decade, and wrapped the final instalment, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, at age 21.
