Tom Felton Addresses J.K. Rowling Controversy Amid Harry Potter Return
Originally appeared on E! Online
Tom Felton isn't tuned into the noise.
Just days after the Harry Potter alum announced he'll be returning to the franchise as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter And The Cursed Child on Broadway, Tom was asked whether some of the controversy around author J.K. Rowling's anti-trans statements affected his decision to return.
"No, I can't say it does," Tom told Variety on the red carpet of the Tony Awards June 8. "I'm not really that attuned to it."
The 37-year-old—who starred alongside Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint in the films— continued, "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."
In fact, Tom spoke to how the existence of the Broadway production—which follows the unlikely friendship between the sons of Harry and Draco after they both get sorted into Slytherin house—speaks to the longevity of Harry Potter.
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As he explained E! News' Keltie Knight at the Tonys, 'I was waiting for someone to jump out and say this is a spoof or some sort of elaborate Punk'd joke. But it's happening. I did not take much convincing!'
And for the Rise of the Planet of the Apes actor, his nerves about taking on the project are a good thing.
'Anything that's really, truly worth doing, you should be a little bit nervous about,' he continued. 'It's an old role, so it's familiar shoes, but also a brand new slice of Draco's life. Now, he's a parent, so I'm excited to explore that.'
As he explained E! News' Keltie Knight at the Tonys, 'I was waiting for someone to jump out and say this is a spoof or some sort of elaborate Punk'd joke. But it's happening. I did not take much convincing!'
And for the Rise of the Planet of the Apes actor, his nerves about taking on the project are a good thing.
'Anything that's really, truly worth doing, you should be a little bit nervous about,' he continued. 'It's an old role, so it's familiar shoes, but also a brand new slice of Draco's life. Now, he's a parent, so I'm excited to explore that.'
This time around, Tom will be taking a page out of his costar Jason Isaacs' playbook, the actor who portrayed Draco's father Lucius in the film series.
Thankfully, their offscreen relationship will continue to serve Tom well in this next chapter.
'I still call him dad and he still calls me son,' he revealed of the White Lotus star. 'He is superb. Everything he does, I've learned so much from him, just as much offscreen as I have onscreen.'
For more from the Tonys, read on.
Julianne HoughSarah SnookKatie HolmesAlex Winter and Keanu ReevesDaveed DiggsMegan HiltyAnna WintourRosie PerezJustina MachadoRachel SussmanAudra McDonaldDarren CrissJonathan GroffJean SmartNicole ScherzingerSarah PaulsonDanielle BrooksLaufeyPhillipa SooCynthia ErivoCole EscolaBryan CranstonKristin ChenowethGeorge Clooney and Amal Clooney
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