The problems and delays impacting the filming of season two of HBO’s Harry Potter TV show

We’re finally at the point of having a full trailer for that new Harry Potter TV show. It feels like HBO have been attempting to build excitement for this for an eternity. It’s been three and a half years since the studio officially confirmed this show was happening. Although it looked at one point as if the first season wouldn’t air until early 2027, HBO have now announced it will premiere on 25th December 2026. But when will season two exist? Here’s a look at what’s gone on with production for season two of HBO’s Harry Potter TV show (including hiccups, and alleged delays).

Props reportedly went missing from the set

So, HBO’s vision is to film each season of their Harry Potter show back-to-back at that huge Warner Bros Studios site in Hertfordshire. The plan was to finish filming season one in mid-2026, then crack on with the second season. This will adapt JK Rowling‘s book Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets.

Apparently, props from the site have developed a habit of vanishing. The Sun reported in May that books, pumpkins, wands and food from a Halloween feast went missing from the Great Hall set.

The Great Hall at Hogwarts
(Image via HBO / YouTube)

A poster from the set read: “Props on this production have been microchipped. For inventory and security purposes, props are being tracked daily, and movement of props will be logged.” The warning was accompanied by an illustration of a broomstick with a lock.

HBO had to find a replacement Ginny

So, it seems Ginny Weasley will appear in the first season of that Harry Potter show. However, the actor Gracie Cochrane quit the series in May.

Gracie’s family released a statement. “Due to unforeseen circumstances Gracie has made the challenging decision to step away from her role as Ginny Weasley in the HBO Harry Potter series after season one,” they said.

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A rep for HBO said: “We support Gracie Cochrane and her family’s decision not to return for the next season of HBO’s Harry Potter series, and we are grateful for her work on season one of the show.”

The Weasley family in season one of the Harry Potter show
(Image via HBO / YouTube)

In July, Collider reported that season two was facing delays as HBO still needed to find an actor to play Ginny Weasley. A casting call went out, asking for UK children aged 10, 11 or 12 to send in audition videos by 17th July.

Another huge character in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets also had to be recast. Nicholas Hoult was set to portray Gilderoy Lockhart, but dropped out due to “scheduling conflicts”. On 24th August, Kit Harington was confirmed as Nicholas Hoult’s replacement.

The scripts for season two ‘need tweaking’

Filming for season two seems to have started now. The actor Asha Soetan (who portrays Angelina Johnston) shared on her Insta story on 14th August that she was “back on set with some exciting scenes”. However, some parts of the show are reportedly being filmed later than expected.

A source told The Sun: “Filming for series two was meant to start in August. We had dates to start filming, but the scripts have not been finished. Everyone at Warner Bros is up in arms. The cost implications are huge. Filming for major scenes has been postponed for two months until October. It has caused a lot of stress for everyone … We’ve been told that a number of scenes need tweaking because they are not quite right. The powers-that-be want everything perfect.”

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