Security is ‘increased’ on new Harry Potter set over fears trans activists had planned to sabotage new JK Rowling project
Security on the new Harry Potter set has been stepped up amid growing concerns that trans activists are planning to sabotage the new project, according to reports.
Filming for the new wizarding TV series began earlier this summer, but fears were sparked last week when intruders allegedly broke into the set of the show at Leavesden Studios in Watford, Herefordshire.
Rumors of illegal entry onto the Diagon Alley set come at a time of growing backlash in the trans community against Potter author JK Rowling, who has long been outspoken about gender identity and women’s rights.
Ms Rowling faced a fierce backlash after voicing concerns about the denial of biological sex and focus on gender identity to the detriment of women’s rights, but has consistently denied being transphobic.
Just last week the Edinburgh-based author mocked lawmakers on Canada’s Vancouver Park Board after they apologized for hosting a ‘transphobic’ Potter-themed event because of her views.
Security officials on set are said to fear that anger towards Ms Rowling could spill over into filming planned to take place in Yorkshire and Cornwall in the coming months.
Some trans rights supporters are believed to be planning moves to disrupt production by posting online that this would be the perfect ‘opportunity to protest’ against Ms Rowling, one of the show’s executive producers.
One insider went so far as to describe it as a “major headache” for bosses at HBO, which are preparing the new series to hit screens in 2027.
New Harry Potter series, starring Dominic McLaughlin (above) as the arch wizard, may face filming disruption
McLaughlin (center) will be joined on screen by Arabella Stanton (left) as Hermione Granger and Alastair Stout (right) as Ron Weasley.
JK Rowling (above) will be on board as one of the new series’ executive producers, but transgender activists are reportedly targeting the show to protest her views on gender identity
they said Sun: ‘This was a huge headache for creators and sparked a major investigation into security breaches at the studios.
‘Security has now been increased as a result of what happened, but that is also what is expected to happen at some point due to discussions taking place among Trans activists online.
‘The series won’t air until 2027, which means there will be a very long filming period; Many things can break down, get damaged or leak during this time.’
The Daily Mail has reached out to HBO for comment.
The alleged threats have raised particular concern about the size of the locations where the Potter series will film.
Earlier this month, a village being built for the new show, which will star John Lithgow as Albus Dumbledore and Nick Frost as Rebeus Hagrid, was spotted for the first time in Hertfordshire.
The sets being built appeared to include a thatched hut, a road, a sports field, a greenhouse and a stone outhouse.
Although details are not yet clear, the sports stand could be for scenes involving the fictional sport of Quidditch, while other locations could be the Burrow, the family home of the Weasleys and Hagrid’s Hut.
The new witchcraft stars have been spotted filming in Cornwall in recent months (McLaughlin spotted on set above)
Sets built in Cornwall showed a thatched-roof cottage, a road, a sports stand, a greenhouse and a stone outhouse
The nearby farmland was also spotted transforming into a wizarding world; It was thought that filming would soon be moved here from the existing location in Cornwall used for filming the scenes.
The surrounding villages were also transformed into places similar to those in the 1980s; Hoddesdon in particular was given a historic makeover to bring it back to the setting of the novel’s prologue.
An estate agent’s window display at the time of filming showed the massive increase in inflation that has affected the economy over the past four decades, and that houses could be bought for as little as £25,000.
A newsstand also offered a throwback to the headlines that dominated the conversation at the time; A familiar newspaper featured a glowing picture of Princess Diana following the announcement of her pregnancy.
While the visual, published on November 1, 1981, shows the late Princess of Wales leaving the stage, the report stated that good wishes were received from all over the world following the news of the baby.
