The Harry Potter universe has once again made its way into the public eye thanks to a simple yet highly symbolic gesture: the reunion of Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton in New York. More than two decades after first donning their Hogwarts robes, the actors who played Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy were seen together again, sparking a wave of nostalgia among fans in Europe and around the world.
Far from spells and wands, the encounter took place in a very different context than filming: a special event at the Hudson Theatre , where the filmed version of the revival of Merrily We Roll Along , the Stephen Sondheim musical that Radcliffe starred in on Broadway, was being projected on the big screen. There, among the seats and spotlights, Felton made a surprise appearance to greet his former co-star.
A hug that 24 years later still works magic
During the special screening of Merrily We Roll Along in New York, Tom Felton was spotted in the audience and, after the show, went up on stage to embrace Daniel Radcliffe. That gesture, captured by cameras at the Hudson Theatre, has become a new iconic image for fans of the saga.
The photograph of the hug is not just a charming anecdote: for many fans, it represents the first major public reunion between the two since July 2011 , when they met at the New York premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. In between, they did share the stage in the HBO Max television special Harry Potter: Return to Hogwarts , but they had not been seen together at a public event of this kind.
The context is also important. It has been 24 years since the two first set foot on a film set at Hogwarts.
During the meeting at the Hudson Theatre, the lights began to flash to signal to the audience that they should take their seats, but all eyes were on the scene between the two actors. Radcliffe and Felton exchanged a few words in a relaxed tone , posed for a photo together, and within minutes, the images began circulating on social media and international news outlets.
The reunion has also coincided with a particularly emotional moment for the fandom: more than 14 years have passed since the premiere of the last film installment and yet the saga continues to be very present on European platforms such as HBO Max, in London theater and in Broadway productions that continue to feed the collective memory.
From arch-enemies at Hogwarts to stage partners
On screen, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy symbolized the classic hero-antagonist rivalry for years , with clashes, insults, and the occasional malicious spell. However, those who have followed the actors' lives know that off-screen, the atmosphere was very different.
Over the years, both have spoken openly about the relationship of respect and mutual support that developed behind the scenes. Felton has mentioned on more than one occasion that Radcliffe was always a role model for him, especially when it came to making the leap to theater. In an interview on the American program Good Morning America , the actor who played Draco readily admitted: “I took some advice from Potter; he was one of my first inspirations for coming to Broadway .”
Felton recounted how, more than a decade ago, he witnessed one of Radcliffe's first theatrical forays in New York, and it opened his eyes to the possibilities of the stage. Today, Daniel Radcliffe is a Tony Award winner and one of the most respected figures in the theater world, something his former on-screen "enemy" is quick to point out whenever he has the chance.
For his part, Radcliffe responded humbly to these compliments. Also on Good Morning America , he confessed that it felt almost surreal that someone he always saw as "the cool kid on set" would speak of him as an inspiration. In his own words, "It's crazy that he considers me an inspiration for something, it's very sweet," emphasizing his affection for Felton and the joy he feels seeing him succeed on stage.
Beyond the anecdote, this exchange of compliments highlights that the connection between them goes far beyond the media phenomenon. Both have embraced their adult careers naturally , without clinging to the past, but without denying the impact the saga had on their lives or the personal bond forged during those years of filming in the UK.
Tom Felton returns as Draco Malfoy on Broadway
The New York reunion has generated so much buzz, largely because it coincides with a pivotal moment in Felton's career. The British actor has officially returned to the wizarding world on stage with Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , a play that expands upon the original story and focuses on the lives of the protagonists' children.
The production, which has been running on Broadway since 2016, is now entering a new phase with Felton joining the cast. He is the first member of the original film cast to reprise his role in this sequel, a move that has generated significant media attention and particularly caught the eye of European fans who closely follow everything related to the saga.
In this stage version, Felton plays an adult Draco Malfoy who must grapple with the consequences of his past and his complex relationship with his son. The play addresses the generational shift at Hogwarts and focuses on the descendants of Harry and Draco, offering a new perspective on the classic good-versus-evil conflict of the films.
The audience at the Lyric Theatre in New York greeted the actor with direct references to the saga. One of the most celebrated moments came when Felton delivered the iconic line "Scared, Potter?" before a duel , a nod that elicited knowing smiles and a touch of nostalgia from those who grew up with the original films.
In its seventh season on Broadway, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child has broken box office records, surpassing $3,1 million earned during Thanksgiving week, one of the most lucrative periods in the US theater calendar. This confirms that the allure of the Wizarding World remains strong both across the Atlantic and among European visitors to New York.
As part of this new phase, Felton has also been the protagonist of promotional events in the city, even going so far as to light up the iconic Empire State Building in a themed event, yet another nod to the global dimension that the Harry Potter brand maintains.
Daniel Radcliffe's theater career and his upcoming projects
While Felton delves into the world of theater with Draco, Daniel Radcliffe continues to solidify his already impressive stage career . Having definitively left behind the image of the boy wizard, the actor has taken on a string of projects in London and New York that have earned him critical acclaim and, most recently, a Tony Award.
One of his most talked-about projects has been his participation in the revival of Merrily We Roll Along , the classic Stephen Sondheim musical. Radcliffe was part of the main cast alongside Jonathan Groff and Lindsay Mendez , and the stage production was so successful that the producers decided to film a version, which has been shown in theaters and served as the perfect excuse for his reunion with Felton.
For European audiences, this filmed version offers a chance to see Radcliffe's theatrical work on the big screen , something often inaccessible due to geographical limitations. The film captures one of the live performances and allows viewers to appreciate the actor's shift in style in a very different environment from the commercial cinema that brought him fame.
Looking to the immediate future, Radcliffe already has his return to Broadway marked on his agenda in 2026 with the play Every Brilliant Thing , a monologue written by Duncan Macmillan and Jonny Donahoe that combines humor and tough moments to talk about depression, resilience and the little reasons that make life worthwhile.
As the actor himself revealed on television, the production will run at the Hudson Theatre for a limited engagement between February and May , with the opening night scheduled for February 21 and the closing night for May 24. It is a very personal project, in which Radcliffe takes on an intimate and demanding text from an interpretive standpoint.
Although he hasn't yet seen his friend in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child , Radcliffe has made it clear that he's eager to sit in the theater to see Felton as the adult Draco . In his own words, he's especially excited that his former co-star is experiencing this professional milestone in the same city, which increases the chances of more spontaneous encounters like the one at Merrily We Roll Along.
A legacy that lives on between Europe and New York
The Harry Potter saga maintains a constant presence in European popular culture . The films continue to be broadcast regularly on television channels and platforms like HBO Max, the books continue to be reissued, and the theme parks continue to attract visitors from Spain and the rest of the continent.
In this context, every gesture involving the original actors carries special weight. Radcliffe and Felton's reunion has rekindled a sense of community among fans who grew up with J.K. Rowling's novels and their film adaptations. For many, seeing them embrace again is almost like stepping back into the halls of Hogwarts, even if just for a moment.
The very structure of the phenomenon helps keep the flame alive. On one side of the Atlantic, London remains a key hub for the wizarding world, with productions like Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the West End and immersive experiences designed for European tourism. On the other, Broadway and New York serve as an international showcase , welcoming audiences from all over the world, including thousands of visitors from Spain and other European countries each season.
The fact that Felton has made the leap to Broadway as Draco and that Radcliffe maintains a steady presence there with various projects creates a kind of emotional bridge between the two markets. For fans traveling from Europe, seeing the original cast live in the theater offers a different way to reconnect with the saga, more intimate than the screen but equally powerful.
Furthermore, the expansion of the universe into other formats—such as the new television adaptations currently underway or the big-budget video games—is somewhat bolstered by the notoriety of these moments. The embrace at the Hudson Theatre serves as a reminder that, behind the franchise, there are personal stories and real relationships that continue to evolve over time.
A reunion that strengthens the magic without the need for wands
The meeting between Daniel Radcliffe and Tom Felton in New York has served for more than just fueling nostalgia: it has once again put in the spotlight the professional and personal evolution of two actors who grew up under enormous media pressure and who, over the years, have learned to manage that legacy without getting trapped by it.
On the one hand, Radcliffe continues to prove he is much more than just the face of the young wizard , alternating demanding theater projects with audiovisual work very different from the youthful fantasy that made him famous. On the other hand, Felton has found in the controlled return to Draco Malfoy a way to reconcile with his character, revisiting him from a more mature perspective and fitting him into a theatrical context that allows him to explore new nuances.
For viewers in Spain and the rest of Europe, who follow the careers of both actors from afar, this reunion serves as a kind of knowing wink : the story that marked their adolescence is not only still present on screens and stages, but also in the cordial relationship between those who brought it to life.
Without the need for big announcements or pompous campaigns, a simple hug backstage has been enough to remind us that the magical world of Harry Potter is still very much alive , fueled by collective memory, by new adaptations and, above all, by the complicity between two actors who have managed to turn a fictional rivalry into a discreet but lasting friendship.