Tom Felton reflects on his experience in Harry Potter

More than ten years after the end of the Harry Potter film saga and more than 25 years after the publication of the first book, the universe of the bespectacled wizard remains extremely popular worldwide. France is no exception, and Potterheads turned out in force for Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show by TGS on March 16-17 to meet Tom Felton, who plays Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films. Here’s a look back at the actor’s answers at a panel that drew an impressive crowd.

Draco Malfoy, not the first role Tom Felton auditioned for

What if Tom Felton had played Harry Potter or Ron Weasley in the Warner Bros. films? A possibility, no doubt, unthinkable to Harry Potter fans, so accustomed are they to seeing him play Draco Malfoy. But it was these two roles that Tom Felton first auditioned for, as he confided at the Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show 35.

Initially, the British actor was tested five times for the role of Harry Potter. They dyed his hair black, gave him the famous scar and made him wear the wizard’s famous glasses to see if he could play the main character. The role eventually went to Daniel Radcliffe. Two weeks later, Tom Felton was back in front of the production team with a new hair color to read for the character of Ron Weasley. After being tested four times for the role, he was ultimately unsuccessful, and Harry Potter’s best friend was played on screen by Rupert Grint.

Eventually, after dying his hair again, he was cast as Draco Malfoy. A role that he says was partly due to his audacity during the casting process. During the casting process, Tom Felton had stated that he had read the Harry Potter books, which was not the case, and Chris Columbus, director of the first two films, quickly exposed his lie. However, the actor’s cunning was undoubtedly what tipped the scales in his favor, as Draco Malfoy could have done just as much to get his way.

When questioned, Tom Felton confessed that he couldn’t see himself playing another character in the saga, even if he had to dye his hair every week for nine years.

A busy, multi-faceted actor

Although Tom Felton is best known for his role as Draco Malfoy in Harry Potter, the British actor has been involved in numerous film and television projects in recent years. These include Origin, The Flash, Murder in the First, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and A Babysitter’s Guide to Monster Hunting. He’ll be back in the spotlight in the near future, with at least two feature films he’s starring in set for release in 2024, he told attendees at TGS’ Paris Manga & Sci-Fi Show 35.

In addition to his career in front of the camera, Tom Felton is also a renowned musician and delighted fans by announcing that 6 to 7 new songs are planned for the coming months. His writing talents are not limited to music, as Tom Felton has also released a best-selling autobiography entitled “Beyond the Wand: The Magic and Mayhem of Growing Up a Wizard”. The actor used his appearance on stage to thank all those who have read the book, saying that writing is an excellent therapeutic tool for him and concluding that the best is yet to come as far as his projects are concerned.

Extra information

Tom Felton doesn’t know why the production didn’t keep the scene where Draco throws a wand to help Harry in the last movie. While he thinks it would have been cool to see it on screen since it was filmed, he points out that the books contain a huge amount of material and it can be hard to fit it all into a movie.
The British actor considers himself a “Slytherdor,” a cross between Slytherin and Gryffindor, because he has a big heart and cares about others, but can also be cheeky and naughty when necessary. In his opinion, he has the best of both houses.
Tom Felton is always in touch with the other cast members, whom he considers his family. He adds that Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson are some of his best friends.
What’s his favorite Harry Potter movie? It’s impossible for him to choose, but if he had to, he’d say Chamber of Secrets, because it was that movie that got him reading again. And it gave him a great fight with Harry, which was fun to shoot.
Tom Felton says he loves France, where he has spent every summer since he was six.