‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child’: Tom Felton marks return as Draco Malfoy by lighting up the Empire State Building

Actor Tom Felton celebrated his return to the 'Harry Potter' universe in a big way. The 38-year-old actor, famous for playing Draco Malfoy, lit up New York City's iconic Empire State Building on Monday, October 27. The event honoured his upcoming Broadway debut in 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child'.

A magical moment at the Empire State Building

The ceremony began with Felton being introduced by the building’s Vice President of Operations, Tom Middleton. Dressed in a casual grey blazer and graphic T-shirt, Felton flipped the famous switch that lit up the tower lights in red, yellow, blue, and green, symbolizing Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and Slytherin.


The building then glowed green for House Slytherin, which was his house in the movies, creating a spellbinding view across the Manhattan skyline. Afterwards, Felton toured the Observatory Experience and posed for photos on the 86th and 102nd floors, embracing the breathtaking city view and greeting fans.

A full circle moment for the 'Harry Potter' star

Felton will make his Broadway debut at the Lyric Theater on November 11. The play, 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child', is set 19 years after 'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'. According to Parade, when the news was announced in June 2025, the actor released a statement. "Being a part of the Harry Potter films has been one of the greatest honours of my life," he said.

He called the new role a "full-circle moment". He explained, "...when I begin performances in Cursed Child this fall, I’ll also be the exact age Draco is in the play. It’s surreal to be stepping back into his shoes... and I am thrilled to be able to see his story through..."

The popular play, which has won six Tony Awards, is also a proud supporter of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

A busy year for the actor

Alongside his Broadway debut, 2025 is shaping up to be a busy year for Felton. He stars in the upcoming action-thriller ‘Altered,’ set in a world where genetically enhanced humans dominate society. The film is scheduled for release on November 11, 2025, coinciding with his first performance in ‘Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.’ Fans can see him perform as Draco Malfoy for a 26-week run, which ends on May 10, 2026.