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Credit: Warner Bros.Production on the upcoming Harry Potter television series has been forced to tighten its security measures after intruders recently broke onto the set amid growing tensions between author J.K. Rowling, who’s also an executive producer on the reboot, and the trans community. However, it’s unclear whether the intruders were activists or law-breaking fans.
It sounds like something out of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows—Part I (2010), in which Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) break into the Ministry of Magic; however, according to The Sun, some individuals reportedly trespassed onto the semi-constructed set of Diagon Alley in Leavesden Studios, the home of the original Harry Potter film series, and later leaked pictures of the set online.
Trans Activists Plot to Disrupt Filming on Location
But trespassers aren’t the only risk, as the British tabloid also reports that some trans rights supporters who oppose author Rowling’s views on gender identity — which have divided fans over the years — have been plotting to disrupt location filming in Yorkshire and Cornwall.
A TV insider said of both the security breach and the discussions online, “This has been a massive headache for the creators and sparked a massive investigation within the studios about the breach in security.
“Security has now been boosted as a result of what’s happened, but also what is expected to happen at some point due to the discussions taking place online among trans activists.
“The series won’t air until 2027, which means it is going to be a very long filming period during which time so much can be disrupted, damaged, or leaked.”
Related: ‘Harry Potter’ Fans React To Female Lord Voldemort Casting
Disturbing Comments Were Found
According to the report, online forums run by trans activists considered targeting the filming of scenes in Cornwall earlier this month, which included John Lithgow in his full Albus Dumbledore garb (those images also found their way online). However, the activists suggested those plans were nothing more than a “protest opportunity” against Rowling.
But as filming now heads to the historic market town of Skipton in North Yorkshire, one disturbed individual who commented on a TransgenderUK forum said, “Skipton, ah yes… notorious for gas leaks, so I’ve heard.”
Another unhinged activist in the same chain replied, “This is the most drastic solution I’ve seen so far, but I’m intrigued…”
The Harry Potter Controversy Continues
This news comes hot on the heels of Keira Knightley, who was recently cast as Professor Dolores Umbridge in the new Harry Potter audiobook series, being asked in an interview about her feelings on the controversy surrounding Rowling.
Knightley was criticized by trans activists after taking a neutral stance on the matter, saying, “I think we’re all living in a period of time right now where we’re all going to have to figure out how to live together, aren’t we? And we’ve all got very different opinions. I hope that we can all find respect.”
Rowling herself recently engaged in even more drama after Hermione Granger actress Emma Watson broke her years-long silence on her strained relationship with the author. Rowling, uninterested in anything Watson had to say, posted a lengthy and scathing response to her on X (formerly Twitter).
When Is the New Harry Potter Series Out?
Assuming production isn’t significantly disrupted by these breaches, the Harry Potter TV series is still set to premiere on HBO in 2027.
John Lithgow (Albus Dumbledore), Nick Frost (Rubeus Hagrid), Janet McTeer (Minerva McGonagall), Paul Whitehouse (Argus Filch), Katherine Parkinson (Molly Weasley), Alastair Stout (Ron Weasley), Arabella Stanton (Hermione Granger), and Dominic McLaughlin (Harry Potter) are among its extensive cast list.
It’s written and executive-produced by showrunner Francesca Gardiner (HBO’s Succession, His Dark Materials, Killing Eve). J.K. Rowling, Neil Blair, and Ruth Kenley-Letts of Brontë Film and TV, and David Heyman of Heyday Films are also onboard as executive producers. Mark Mylod (Succession, Game of Thrones, The Last of Us) will executive-produce and direct multiple episodes.
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