Game of Thrones season 8 costing HBO $15 million per episode
Season seven cost a reported $10 million per episode
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Game of Thrones’ seventh season was filled with spectacular set pieces, ranging from White Walker hordes chasing John Snow to dragons burning down entire armies.
Those seven episodes cost around $10 million (£7.5 million) each, a new high for the series that’s known to be one of TV’s highest priced shows.
Come season eight, and things have become even more expensive. Variety reports that each of the six episodes will cost $15 million (£11.1 million).
There are also rumours that each episode — the directors for which have just been announced — will be feature length.
Variety’s report also features some other very interesting numbers. According to the trade publication, the average price of a television show is rising skyward, partly thanks to streaming services upping the game.
They claim each episode of Stranger Things’ first season — which itself was attempting to emulate the feeling of those 80s Steven Spielberg films — cost $6 million per episode. Season two, meanwhile, has cost Netflix $8 million per episode.
Meanwhile, in other Game of Thrones news, the first casting call for season eight was made, HBO searching for a ‘Northern Girl’ and ‘Boy’. Game of Thrones returns either next year or early 2019.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments