Tom Felton Confirms Reaching Out To HBO’s New Draco Malfoy Harry Potter Star

Tom Felton, the original on-screen Draco Malfoy, revealed if he gave any advice to the young actor playing the blond Slytherin in the upcoming Harry Potter TV show.

Felton played Malfoy in all eight Harry Potter films, which were released from 2001 to 2011 and grossed over $7 billion at the box office. Now Lox Pratt is getting the chance to step into the character’s shoes when the small-screen remake premieres in December 2026.

During an interview on the Happy Sad Confused podcast, hosted by Josh Horowitz, Felton revealed that he sent Pratt his contact information in case he needed a “word of encouragement or questions to ask” but stopped short of giving his successor any specific advice.

“I think it’s really important. It’s very different. We were entering things that don’t exist. There’s quite a lot of weight now,” Felton said. “So the last thing I’m gonna do is offer anything other than say, ‘Here’s my phone number. Here’s my address.’ To his parents as well as him, and to anyone else there.”

“I’ve sent word, yes. I think it’s really important. It’s very different — we were entering things that don’t exist; there’s quite a lot of weight now. So the last thing I’m gonna do is offer anything other than say, ‘Here’s my phone number. Here’s my address.’ To his parents as well as him, and to anyone else there.”

The actor wants Pratt to have as much fun as possible while filming the TV show and encouraged him to “take as many pictures as you can, steal as many props as you can—they’ll be worth a fortune.”

He added that Pratt is on his own journey now, and the previous adaptation does not need to influence how he interprets the character going forward.

“This is your journey. Have as much fun as possible, take as many pictures as you can, steal as many props as you can — they’ll be worth a fortune. But also, if you do need a word of encouragement or questions to ask, I’m there.”

Daniel Radcliffe and Rupert Grint, who played Harry Potter and Ron Weasley, respectively, in the films, also reached out to their successors in the TV show.

Society is much different than when Felton and his co-stars began their acting journeys. At that time, social media “didn’t exist.” Everyone is now inundated with numerous platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and TikTok.

Felton was able to steer clear of the toxicity that comes with social media, something the Harry Potter remake is currently dealing with as people write critiques of various casting choices (including spewing racist rants at a time when the franchise is leaning into diversity), among other commentary.

“It didn’t exist, did it? There was literally physical film cameras. It took me a while the other day, someone said, ‘How were the films shot?’ And I was like, ‘Was it film?’ It’s like, ‘Of course it was film.’ This is in an era where the guy holding the mic boom, Tommy, was about 70, one eye open, rolls a cigarette with one hand, smokes it, while we’re on a broomstick. That’s how Daniel and I grew up learning Quidditch. Twenty-five years later, we’re on Broadway together! That’s mental.”

Before Harry Potter, Pratt had only starred in one other project: a new adaptation of The Lord of the Flies, which just premiered on BBC in February and will be available to stream in the U.S. on Netflix starting May 4.

Similarly, Felton had only appeared in a handful of films and shows before landing the role of Malfoy in a casting decision that would make household names out of not only Felton but also Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.

After the final Harry Potter film was released in theaters, Felton went on to star in movies and shows like Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Risen, Ophelia, A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting, Altered, Fackham Hall, Murder in the First and The Flash.

Even though it’s been 15 years since Deathly Hallows Part 2, Felton hasn’t completely shed his attachment to the wizarding world. He’s currently starring in the Broadway play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, as he reprises the character of Malfoy but as an adult this time. He’s scheduled to star in the play through May 10.

The Harry Potter TV show will premiere in December 2026 on HBO and HBO Max.