Harry Potter TV Series Forced to Microchip Broomsticks Following Set Thefts

HBO has been forced to warn Harry Potter cast members over the suspected theft of props from set, and microchip items including spell books, broomsticks, pumpkins and wands.

A spate of disappearing items — not thought to have been conjured away magically — have prompted HBO to begin using Muggle electronic techniques to ensure the movement of props can be tracked.

As first reported by The Sun, posters showing images of microchipped brooms have been placed around the HBO series’ sets, with a warning that props are now “being tracked daily” with their movements logged.

Any movement of props away from their designated area now requires “approval from the Props Department,” the posters warn.

A production source has claimed that the series’ bosses are “furious” at the thieves, and that HBO is now scouring eBay for missing items, with any culprits facing the threat of being “punished and fired.” Someone really needs to sort out their priorities.

Yesterday, HBO confirmed it had greenlit the second season of its Harry Potter series — an announcement that was something of a formality, as the streamer has already said it will be making the show for much of the next decade.

That announcement did, however, give more detail on the series’ complex production logistics now involved with keeping the production running. This includes the promotion of a second showrunner to handle the workload, and confirmation that the series will overlap post-production on Season 1 with the start of production on Season 2.

Harry Potter fans have been keeping a close eye on how long the series has taken to film its first season so far, while comments from HBO boss Casey Bloys have raised eyebrows for suggesting the series’ production won’t be able to keep pace to air a new season annually.

HBO is due to launch the series this Christmas, with its first season airing episodes into 2027. Could HBO also launch season 2 in 2027? Bloys’ comments suggest not — leading to the possibility of a two-year gap between seasons, something House of the Dragon and The Last of Us have also faced. If that is the case, HBO may end up releasing its final Harry Potter episodes in the early 2040s.

Tom Phillips is IGN’s News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social