Attention Potterheads: If you want to watch Tom Felton and Natalia Tena’s new YouTube Premium series, “Origin,” for the “Harry Potter” franchise reunion, that’s fine by Felton.
But, just know, the actor is going to call you out for playing fast and loose with the “reunion” phrasing here. After all, Draco Malfoy and Nymphadora Tonks (played by Felton and Tena, respectively, in the films) never once met on screen — meaning that “Origin” actually marks Felton and Tena’s first time working together.
“Oh, I embrace it,” Felton told TheWrap when asked if he’s OK with fans who are tuning in for what we’ve now clarified is not a reunion. ” Any reason that anyone wants to watch it is fine by me. No, Nat and I were actually having a bit of a laugh about this the other day. And Nat and I have never worked together before. We never saw each other once while shooting ‘Harry Potter.’ (laughs) But, so as much as it is a reunion to other people, this is our first time.”
Felton says that he and Tena are “more than happy to have the freakout,” just make sure you come and enjoy the rest of the show.
Created by Mika Watkins, the show’s 10-episode first season follows a group of outsiders who find themselves abandoned on a ship bound for a distant land. Now they must work together for survival, but quickly realize that one of them is far from who they claim to be.
Felton — who says he’s never seen “Star Wars” or “Star Trek” and was really “freaked out” by ‘The Matrix” — says “Origin” “definitely qualifies as a sci-fi thriller.”
“Structurally it’s similar to ‘Lost.’ And kind of like a film franchise as far as what’s going on on the ship,” Felton says. “But essentially its about 10 passengers who have been sent to another planet, who volunteered to be programmed and are waking up prematurely, not on the planet, but still stuck inside and abandoned by all other passengers and crew.”
Felton is playing Logan, who he deems a “troubled young man.”
“I think he’s given up really on humans and relationships and any sort of real love,” Felton says. “And you don’t know why yet, but his backstory will reveal that. And you’ll see he has very little faith in humans at all. I think he’s leaving behind a pretty s—-y life back at home. And this is his last attempt to try and find a new start, really. To find a start because he can. He has a foul mouth. He’s very clever. But he’s a sweetheart. Deep down he’s a sweetheart.
“I think audiences will be very surprised by his backstory, as far as why and who he encountered to get him to go on this vessel,” Felton added. “That’s half of the question as well, ‘Would I do this? Is this something I’d actually do?’ Because it seems very close to home. It doesn’t seem that far in the future really.”
“Origin” stars Felton and Tena, alongside newcomer Sen Mitsuji. Watkins writes and executive produces, with Paul W.S. Anderson (“Resident Evil: The Final Chapter,” “AVP: Alien vs. Predator”) directing the first two episodes.
“Origin” drops on YouTube Premium on Nov. 14.