We hope it pays off
According to reports, each episode of HBO's adventure series will cost more than $10 million to make.
As post-apocalyptic TV series 'The Last Of Us' gears up to begin production, news of how expensive the HBO creation is has become public knowledge. Each episode is reportedly costing the TV service $10 million per episode, with a total budget apparently in the "hundreds of millions".
This pits 'The Last Of Us' up against 'Game Of Thrones' as one of the most expensive TV series ever made. At the beginning of its run, 'GOT' was costing around $5 million per episode, but by the end of season eight, the costs were totalling around $15 million due to all of those extensive battle scenes. However, with 10 episodes expected in the first season of 'The Last Of Us', it will overtake the spending of the final six-episode season of 'GOT'.
Fort Macleod in Alberta, Canada will be the prime filming location of the latest HBO series. The town has become a hotspot for film and TV productions over the years, such as 'Brokeback Mountain', 'Fargo', and the upcoming 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' with Paul Rudd.
An adaptation of the extremely popular video game series, the series will be a survivor/horror/adventure starring Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsay - both of whom are also part of the 'GOT' alum. The pair will play the roles of Joel and Ellie, who attempt to navigate a zombie-filled world in search of a cure.
According to Damian Petti, the president of production company IATSE 212 in Alberta, 'The Last Of Us' "well exceeds the eight-figure per episode mark". He also said the production is a "monster", continuing: "'The Last Of Us' which commences photography this week is indeed a monster.
"It has five art directors and employs an army of hundreds of technicians. It has had six months of prep and shoots (in Alberta) for 12 months."
'The Last Of Us' is expected to release in 2022.