Daniel Radcliffe ventured into the realm of magic and wonder, beating out a number of child actors to be chosen as the chosen one to embody Harry Potter, just as his screen character was destined to defeat the Dark Lord. But not every part of Radcliffe’s journey mirrored his screen counterpart’s epic saga.

While Ron Weasley’s wand met a tragic fate in the films due to accidents, in real life Daniel Radcliffe severely damaged Harry’s wands through a series of wand-related antics. According to the Warner Bros. prop designer, Radcliffe accidentally caused the replacement of nearly 70 to 80 wands.

Harry Potter’s wand had a short lifespan because of Daniel Radcliffe

In the magical world of Harry Potter, There is one spell you can’t cast with a wand: the spell of indestructibility. And no one knows this better than Daniel Radcliffe, who, as it turns out, had a unique approach to handling Harry Potter’s wand. His captivating portrayal of the young wizard enchanted not only esteemed director Chris Columbus, but everyone on set. When Radcliffe joined the cast, he brought a different kind of magic to the table – one that involved a staggering number of wand spare parts.

Apparently, the rumor that Daniel Radcliffe destroyed more than a handful of wands is true. According to an interview with Warner Bros. prop designer and lead model maker Pierre Bohanna shared via Facebook, the man in charge of the magical props complained that he and his team were constantly challenged to keep up with the pace at which Radcliffe was breaking and damaging Harry’s wands.

We probably made about 70 or 80 of them. He (Radcliffe) plays with them all the time and the paint is peeling off.

Rumor has it that Daniel Radcliffe treated Harry Potter’s wand as his personal percussion instrument in his spare time between shoots. Radcliffe’s handling of the wand resulted in a staggering number of substitutions, from drumming it against his leg to tapping it against his palm to stabbing it into the ground. According to Pierre Bohanna, the props department had to replace Harry’s wand no less than 70 times over the course of the eight films.

Daniel Radcliffe couldn’t fathom the truth behind his wand damage

Well, when Daniel Radcliffe was finally informed of how his wand escapades caused damage and required a series of replacement spells, the actor was understandably baffled by the Count. At first, Radcliffe had a classic case of mishearing and believed he had only destroyed eighteen wands instead of eighty. But when he finally realised that he had inadvertently become a wand-destroying machine, Radcliffe issued a profuse apology.

I thought you said eight. Woooooow… I’m so sorry, Pierre. I don’t know how I managed to break so many wands. I know I drum my wands a lot, hitting them against my leg and making some sort of rhythm. I really don’t know, I just feel really bad…

In a heartfelt moment of magical remorse, Daniel Radcliffe apologized to Pierre Bohanna and acknowledged his role in the wand replacement saga. Initially shocked to learn that his mischief had caused serious damage, Radcliffe later admitted that his wand-wielding skills were sometimes not up to wizarding perfection.

Despite the wand issues, however, Daniel Radcliffe’s captivating performance as the boy who lived was never in doubt. His portrayal of Harry was as convincing as ever, making the star a global icon alongside his co-stars Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. More than anything, the actor’s charm and dedication to the role ensured that Harry PotterThe legacy remained as strong as ever – unlike the fragile wands.

Harry Potter Movies are available on Max.