Because this week is a Potter gift that just keeps giving, photos of Draco and Scorpius Malfoy in Cursed Child have officially graced this internet. This early morning treat comes on the heels of cast photos of Harry, Ginny, and Albus Severus Potter, as well as a second round of photos of Ron, Hermione, and Rose Granger-Weasley. This seems to complete the trifecta of cast members entering their first year at Hogwarts when the play begins, and trust me when I say: they saved the most ominous for last.
The last time we saw Scorpius and Draco, they were waiting on the Hogwarts Express platform with Draco's wife, Astoria Greengrass. From Pottermore we know that she was the little sister of a fellow Slytherin classmate, and although a pureblood, she emerged from the aftermath of the Second Wizarding War with a similar mindset to Draco's — questioning her parents' ideals, and unwilling to perpetuate them. Rowling revealed that Lucius and Narcissa considered Astoria a disappointment for not raising their son to believe Muggles were scum, which sets us up to meet a Malfoy in this next generation decidedly different from the original. In the words of J.K. Rowling: "I have high hopes that he will raise Scorpius to be a much kinder and more tolerant Malfoy than he was in his own youth."
However, one can't help but wonder about a very different kind of father and son relationship based on these pictures.
Rowling has given very little away about Scorpius, played by actor Anthony Boyle.
"He’s wearing the official Hogwarts uniform before you go and get sorted into your house. He’s a Malfoy so his clothes should be really expensive but quite constraining to make him feel a bit awkward," said Boyle of his transformation. Rowling hinted that like his father, "I've got a feeling Scorpius is going to do nothing to turn girls off the Malfoy men."
Draco Malfoy, played by Alex Price, is — to put it nicely — NOT looking like a happy camper.
"The world outside has been brilliantly marshaled and been kept away from us by our producers," said Price. "It’s only slowly starting to rear its head now and it’s intimidating, a little scary, but also very exciting because Jack [Thorne] is such a brilliant writer and he’s taken the story into a great place 19 years later, particularly for Draco."
BRRRR, is it cold in here, or is it just the very frosty looking relationship between Draco and Scorpius? I'd been hoping to see a slightly more reformed Draco who, at the very least, wouldn't put the kind of pressure on his own son that Lucius put on him, but look at baby Scorpius's face!! Only time will tell, but in the meantime: yikes.
To learn more about Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, visit the official site here.
Images: Courtesy of Charlie Gray
