Harry Potter Series Star Teases Major Change for Draco Malfoy

by

Rest assured, Slytherin fans: Draco Malfoywill be getting more moments in the spotlight.

With HBO’s new Harry Potter series currently in production, Lox Pratt, the 14-year-old actor playing a young Draco Malfoy, is giving fans a sneak peek at what they can expect – and how his version of the character will be different from the books and movies.

In a recent interview with 1883 Magazine published on February 6th, he explained that the adaptation offers viewers a much richer experience than the original books. He noted that the books serve as a backdrop to the story, a technique also employed in the film version. According to showrunners Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod, who have discussed this in other interviews, the adaptation allows for a significantly expanded view of the narrative.

The series will delve into Draco Malfoy’s past, revealing the reasons behind his antagonistic behavior – a role first brought to life by Tom Felton in the movies – and how his father, Lucius Malfoy, influenced him.

We get a glimpse of Draco’s life outside of school. I don’t want to give away too much, but there are some really great scenes at his home that help you understand his character. In the movies, Draco often comes across as a one-dimensional bully, but this show explores the reasons behind his behavior and shows there’s much more to him.

As someone who appreciates creative expression, I love hearing actors talk about having the space to really become a character. That’s exactly what I got from Lox when he spoke about his role! He mentioned feeling grateful for the freedom he was given, and you can already see hints of that exploration in his film work, like with Lucius. He’s incredibly excited about the series, and honestly, after hearing him talk about it, I can’t wait to see what he brings to the screen. It sounds like a truly brilliant project!

The news that J.K. Rowling’s popular Harry Potter books are being adapted into a new HBO series first came out in April 2023. The show will feature a new cast, including Dominic McLaughlin as Harry Potter, Arabella Stanton as Hermione Granger, and Alastair Stout as Ron Weasley, alongside other actors like Lox.

John Lithgow, a seven-time Emmy Award winner, will play the famous headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore.

The 80-year-old actor confessed he was initially unsure about taking the part. He told ScreenRant last February that he worried it would be how people remembered him for the rest of his life, but ultimately, he was very enthusiastic about it.

He explained that because so many enthusiastic fans are revisiting the Harry Potter series, it was a difficult choice to make. Even though he’ll be quite elderly – around 87 – by the time filming finishes, he’s agreed to participate.

Keep reading to see who else has signed onto the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

In July 2025, actor Anton Lesser, known for his role in Game of Thrones, will become the new Garrick Ollivander, the wandmaker, taking over from the beloved John Hurt, who sadly passed away.

Up-and-coming actor Rory Wilmot will be taking on the role of Neville Longbottom, a popular character from the series, previously portrayed by Matthew Lewis.

Louise Brealey, a British actress known for her work in shows like Sherlock, A Discovery of Witches, and Such Brave Girls, is replacing Zoe Wanamaker as Madam Rolanda Hooch, the Quidditch instructor.

Newcomer Amos Kitson will take on the role of Harry’s cousin, Dudley. Harry Melling previously played the younger version of Dudley in the original films.

Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout will be taking on the iconic roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. They are succeeding Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint, who famously played the characters in the Harry Potter films from 2000 to 2010.

Executive producers Francesca Gardiner and Mark Mylod shared their excitement about the three actors, calling their talent ‘wonderful’ and anticipating the ‘magic’ they’ll create on screen. They also expressed gratitude to the many children who auditioned, saying it was a pleasure to see so much young talent.

Up-and-coming actor Lox Pratt will be taking on the role of Slytherin, following Tom Felton’s departure. Felton is moving to Broadway to play the older Draco Malfoy in the play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child.

HBO revealed in June 2025 that Johnny Flynn, known for his role in Ripley, will be playing Lucius Malfoy. Jason Isaacs, who previously played Lucius in the Harry Potter films, shared his congratulations on Instagram, saying he was excited to pass on the role to the “monstrously talented” Flynn.

Katherine Parkinson, known for her BAFTA-winning role in the British comedy The IT Crowd, will play Mrs. Weasley in the upcoming TV series. She takes over the role previously held by Julie Walters, who starred in Mamma Mia!

According to a March 2025 report in Variety, comedian Nick Frost was in talks to take on the role of Hagrid, the half-giant from the Harry Potter series. Frost became well-known for his work with Simon Pegg in films like Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz. The role of Hagrid was originally played by Robbie Coltrane, who passed away in 2022.

Reports surfaced in December 2024 that Paapa Essiedu, a British actor known for his Emmy nomination and roles like the one in the HBO series I May Destroy You, was being considered to play Professor Snape. The role was famously played by the late Alan Rickman in the Harry Potter films.

John Lithgow, a highly respected actor, will play the role of Professor Dumbledore in the upcoming HBO series. He’s known for his work in shows like Conclave, Dexter, 3rd Rock from the Sun, and The Crown. Lithgow has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including six Emmy Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, two Tony Awards, and two Academy Award nominations.

John Lithgow admitted making the decision to take the role wasn’t simple. He told ScreenRant in February 2025 that he knew this part would likely be how people remember him for the rest of his life, but he was thrilled to accept. He joked that he’d be around 87 years old when filming finished, but he was still saying ‘yes!’ to the project.

Dumbledore was previously played by the late Richard Harris and then by Michael Gambon.

Daniel Rigby, a BAFTA-winning actor, is joining the HBO Max series to play Harry Potter’s Uncle Vernon. He shared on Instagram that he’s excited to take on the role, calling Uncle Vernon “the world’s worst muggle.” Rigby is taking over the part from Richard Griffiths, who sadly passed away in 2013.

Bel Powley, a British actress known for her roles in shows like The Morning Show, A Small Light, and Masters of the Air, will be playing Aunt Petunia, a role previously held by Fiona Shaw.

Janet McTeer, a British actress with a long and successful career – including appearances in shows like Ozark, Jessica Jones, and Sorry for Your Loss – will be playing Professor McGonagall. Professor McGonagall is the head of Gryffindor house and Deputy Headmistress at Hogwarts. The role was famously played by Dame Maggie Smith in the Harry Potter films.

HBO revealed in April 2025 that Paul Whitehouse, a highly acclaimed British comedian and five-time BAFTA winner, will be playing the role of Hogwarts caretaker Filch. David Bradley previously portrayed Filch in the Harry Potter films. Interestingly, Whitehouse also had a small role in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban – he played Sir Cadogan, one of the talking portraits.

Three young actors will play Harry’s classmates Seamus Finnigan, Parvati Patil, and Lavender Brown. Previously, these roles were played by Devon Murray, Shefali Chowdhury, and Jessie Cave.

In June 2025, news broke that Bertie Carvel, a Tony Award-winning actor, will be taking on the role of the Minister of Magic. Previously, Robert Hardy, who passed away in 2017, famously played Cornelius Fudge in the Harry Potter films.

Luke Thallon, a theater actor and potentially the least familiar face in the new cast, will play Harry’s first Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher. Ian Hart previously played Quirrell, a memorable character in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone.

Read More

2026-02-11 01:18