Reports this week suggested that the stars of HBO’s Game of Thrones could take home €1m to €2m per episode for the upcoming series of the hit show.
LA news outlets have reported that some of the show’s major stars are set to make millions per episode, however, Irish star Liam Cunningham has since scrapped the reports.
When contacted by the Sunday Independent, Liam said, “What?! You think the Game of Thrones works like a pensionable job in the civil service? Where the last men standing get the most money? It doesn’t!”
“Every time I see a new figure thrown around, €1m per episode, €2m per episode, I burst me ribs laughing. My bank manager is having a good laugh at it, too.”
Ridiculous: Liam has laughed off rumours that the GOT cast are making millions per episode | VIPIRELAND.COM
The Dubliner also stated that because the show is filmed outside America, the estimations were nothing more than speculation.
“It is not filmed in the States; if you had an American deal, there would be a lot more ‘residuals’ so you can’t compare shows that are filmed here to shows that are filmed over there.
“And if what they are saying is true – that the top 10 stars are getting €2m per episode – then that means it’s costing €20m an episode before you even buy one costume or write one word of script. That’s more than Star Wars!” he laughed.
Cashing in: Stars of the hit series have signed golden contracts for the last two seasons | HBO
Previous reports have suggested that the stars new contracts involve huge bonus clauses based on shared percentages of syndication payments accrued from more than 170 countries.
The show’s major stars including including Emilia Clarke (Daenerys Targaryen); Kit Harington (Jon Snow); Lena Headey (Cersei Lannister); Peter Dinklage (Tyrion Lannister) and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (Jamie Lannister) are all said to have signed golden contracts for the last two seasons.
The news comes after it was revealed that Game of Thrones is set for four different spin-off series after the eighth and final season of the hit fantasy series.
