The 2025 science fiction movie Altered will feature a beloved Harry Potter actor in the lead, and it’s about time. Many of the stars from the hit fantasy movie series have gone on to play prominent roles in movies and TV shows, while others have either stayed out of the spotlight or occupied supporting roles. In all, it’s been wonderful to see the young cast of Harry Potter grow their careers, but one of their most talented has yet to get the attention he deserves. Thankfully, the upcoming sci-fi Altered is the opportunity for this to finally change, assuming it performs well with audiences.

Altered, which will premiere at the Cannes Film Festival and release sometime in 2025, is described as an action sci-fi movie set during an alternate present where most of humanity has undergone genetic alteration. The two lead characters will be outliers in this and will “battle for justice in a society fractured by genetic disparity” (via Screen Rant). Directed by Timo Vuorensola ( who is best known for 2012’s Iron Sky), Altered‘s cast will include Richard Brake, Igor Jijikine, Aggy Adams, Liza Bugulova, and, of course, another exciting household name—Tom Felton.

Tom Felton Is Starring In The Upcoming Sci-Fi, Altered

Altered Is Tom Felton’s First Leading Role

The leading role of Leon in Altered had gone to Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the beloved Harry Potter movies from 2001 to 2011, when he wrapped up this villain role with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2. The role shoved Felton into the spotlight, and he has remained a beloved public figure ever since. However, while he has played supporting roles in movies like Braking for Whales and Rise of the Planet of the Apes, as well as TV shows such as The Flash and Origin, he has yet to have a leading role. Given his performance in Harry Potter, this is truly surprising.

Tom Felton Was One Of The Strongest Child Performers In Harry Potter

The Cast Of Harry Potter Struggled In The Early Years, But Tom Felton Always Looked Comfortable

The kids of Harry Potter started their roles as early as nine or ten years old, so their performances in Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets weren’t anywhere near the quality of later films like Deathly Hallows. Though these earlier installments are a nostalgic joy to watch, the story is carried by more experienced actors, like Alan Rickman, Richard Harris, Maggie Smith, and Robbie Coltrane. Child stars like Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint had an understandably harder time with their roles, but Felton stood out.

Felton’s portrayal of Draco Malfoy was among the strongest in the earlier Harry Potter movies. He was entirely believable as the snobby Slytherin, and his expressiveness and delivery were far beyond his years. This was especially true in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, where Felton got more screen time during the Polyjuice potion sequence. By the time Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince came around and Draco had a far more compelling story arc, Felton was well-equipped to handle it. This makes his lack of leading roles after Harry Potter surprising.

Could Altered Get Tom Felton More Leading Movie Roles?

Without the actor explaining for himself, there’s no way to know for certain why Felton didn’t nab any leading roles after Harry Potter. It’s possible that he simply wasn’t going for them. and that he has been comfortable in supporting roles Or, maybe Draco Malfoy placed Felton in a supporting actor box that he couldn’t escape. Regardless of the answer, Altered is a chance to turn this around. If Felton can prove himself as a leading man, then more roles could certainly follow if that’s what he wants. Of course, there’s no guarantee of this, since it would depend entirely on the sci-fi movie’s performance.

Altered has a relatively low budget for a sci-fi movie ($14 million), which makes it harder to qualify for large-scale success. Additionally, it’s still unclear how it will be distributed. A theatrical release may be a tough sell and would likely be limited if it did happen. The majority of audiences will probably see Altered through a streaming platform, and this can be hit or miss for lesser-known projects. In all, there’s certainly a chance that this won’t be the last we see Felton in a leading role. Given his talent in Harry Potter and his other supporting roles over the years, it would be a shame if it was.