The Harry Potter film series ran from 2001-2011, spanning across eight films and collectively grossing $7.7 billion at the box office. The original stars included Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter, Emma Watson as Hermione Granger, Rupert Grint as Ron Weasley, Tom Felton as Draco Malfoy, and the late Alan Rickman as Professor Snape, plus many more.
With such a successful franchise and the news of HBO’s Harry Potter series beginning soon, Felton reflected on his past and one of his most notable roles as Draco Malfoy in the original films on the Happy Sad Confused Podcast with Josh Horowitz. When asked which movie out of the eight he appeared in was his favorite, he surprisingly stated, “I’ve never seen them more than once.” However, upon reflection, Felton looks back on them fondly:
“Well, I’ll say bluntly. The second film, Chamber of Secrets, was always fun because there was a giant snake basilisk in it and Alan Rickman was in full form, and we knew our characters a little better then.
The sixth one was the most rewarding for me as an actor. I certainly wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now without the training and the learning of what proper acting sort of is or was.”
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was released in 2002, in which Felton’s character is one of the movie’s primary antagonists and a red herring for the Heir of Slytherin. He joins the Slytherin Quidditch team and becomes a seeker like his father, Lucius Malfoy. One of the most iconic moments was when Hermione used a polyjuice potion to transform Harry and Ron into Draco’s co-conspirators, Crabbe and Goyle.
The sixth Harry Potter movie is The Half-Blood Prince, in which Draco faces some tough internal conflict and is forced to become a Death Eater in order to kill Albus Dumbledore. Voldemort enlists Draco to carry out his wicked plan, and Draco feels that inner struggle as he is forced to commit acts he’d rather not do, so his family remains safe. However, Draco famously can’t kill Dumbledore, leaving Snape to carry out the act.
Felton is still honoring the iconic role of Draco and will be reprising his role on Broadway in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. He also stated that he offered his help and guidance to the new actor taking over as Draco Malfoy in HBO’s retelling of J.K. Rowling’s novels.
HBO’s Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone will be available to watch on December 25.
- Cast
-
Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Tom Felton, Alan Rickman, Matthew Lewis, Bonnie Wright, Evanna Lynch, Maggie Smith, Michael Gambon, Richard Harris, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Alfred Enoch, Harry Melling, Gary Oldman, Robert Pattinson, Warwick Davis, Oliver Phelps, James Phelps, David Bradley, David Thewlis, Katie Leung, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, David Tennant, Jamie Campbell Bower, Timothy Spall, Robbie Coltrane, Eddie Redmayne, Jude Law, Katherine Waterston, Ezra Miller, Dan Fogler, Alison Sudol, Johnny Depp, Mads Mikkelsen
- Movie(s)
-
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore