Tom Felton has met the boy replacing him as Draco. His advice to Lox Pratt is three words long
Tom Felton is backing the new Draco Malfoy to the hilt — and says the young actor bringing him to television has nothing to fear.
Here we go again: Draco Malfoy is returning with a new face – and the bloke who first put a sneer on the Slytherin scion has some thoughts about it. Tom Felton, now an old hand at wizard rivalry, is positively championing Lox Pratt, the lad cast as TV’s new Draco in the upcoming Harry Potter series. It’s one of those nice, slightly surreal British handovers: from grown-up child villain to the next kid about to learn what Potter fandom can be like at close range.
Asked by BBC News whether he’s worried about the pressure on the young newcomer, Felton replied: 'You just enjoy it for what it is.'
Passing the Slytherin Torch
Felton actually met Pratt – and reckons there’s more than a dash of himself in the lad, which isn’t what every actor would want to hear but, in this context, is clearly intended as a compliment. According to Felton, Pratt isn’t just talented; he’s downright 'charming' and the two got on straight away. If that isn’t enough to keep the parents calm, Felton’s own mum is apparently dispensing career wisdom to Pratt’s mum, so the family support network is up already.
- Lox Pratt (Draco Malfoy) – had a run in Lord of the Flies adaptation earlier this year
- Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter)
- Alastair Stour (Ron Weasley)
- Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger)
Felton is telling Pratt to keep things 'cheeky but professional', which is probably as good a guide as any for surviving a Potter-sized scrutiny storm. Felton’s seen all the fuss before, starting when he was all of 12, so he ought to know.
On whether the boy can handle the circus, Felton told the BBC: 'He’s got a very good head on his shoulders, and what you don’t know doesn’t hurt you. I’m sure he’s not one to scroll through negative comments.'
Felton and the Franchise
Anyone wondering if Felton has moved on from Draco can relax; he’s literally still wearing the robes – as an adult, no less – on Broadway’s 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'. He still counts Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson as close mates ('family', even). And as far as Felton is concerned, the new TV version is a smart move. He pointed out that two-hour films never really left room for all the wizarding detail, so the series has a shot at showing off some of the bits that got skipped on screen. He isn’t fully ruling out popping back as Draco yet either – classic cautious actor answer: 'It’s hard to say with any certainty what’s to come.'
The first season drops on HBO Max this Christmas – 25 December, if you’re counting. Ready yourselves for a whole new batch of Hogwarts alumni on your screens.
Harry Potter Season 1 premieres on 25 December 2026.