Latest news with #RingsofPower
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Harry Potter series price tag unveiled after claims of record breaking budget
Harry Potter is facing a reboot with a brand new cast of actors and it's been reported the series would beat Rings of Power as the most expensive TV show ever to be created HBO has responded to claims the upcoming Harry Potter TV series will be the most expensive television show ever made, following reports suggesting the cost per episode would reach a staggering £75 million. The adaptation of JK Rowling's book series is set to be a decade-long project, with each season dedicated to one of the seven novels. Reports originally published by The Express claimed that the ambitious project would dramatically outspend even Prime Video's The Rings of Power, which cost around $465 million (£399 million) for its first season. However, a source close to the production has now confirmed to that the reported £75 million per episode figure is inaccurate. Instead, the budget is expected to be more in line with the final season of Game of Thrones, which cost approximately $15 million (around £12 million) per episode. Even with a more modest budget than reported, the new Harry Potter series is shaping up to be a landmark production. Casting directors received over 30,000 applications from young actors hoping to play the new generation of Hogwarts students. Now, Warner Bros. and HBO have confirmed that Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton, and Alastair Stout will take on the roles of Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley. This also marks the actors' first professional appearances on screen. Showrunner Francesca Gardiner and director Mark Mylod shared: "After an extraordinary search led by casting directors Lucy Bevan and Emily Brockmann, we are delighted to announce we have found our Harry, Hermione, and Ron. "The talent of these three unique actors is wonderful to behold, and we cannot wait for the world to witness their magic together onscreen." Francesca Gardiner, whose previous credits include His Dark Materials and Killing Eve, is on board as showrunner and writer. She will be joined by Mark Mylod, a veteran director known for his work on Succession and The Last of Us, who will direct multiple episodes. The cast also includes acclaimed actors such as John Lithgow as Professor Dumbledore, Janet McTeer as Professor McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, and Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid. The series is scheduled to begin filming this summer and premiere in 2026. It is said to be a faithful adaptation of the books and HBO bosses are hoping to use it to bring the wizarding world to new and existing fans alike. HBO Max will stream the series in various countries, including the UK, Germany, and Italy. Production is already underway, with a £1 billion studio expansion being constructed in Leavesden that includes an on-site school for the show's young stars. Analysts are predicting that this will have a long-term impact on the UK's creative industries. Tom Harrington from Enders Analysis has told The Times: "It's not just the box office, the merchandise, the tourists or the tours arising from the books, but the resurgence of big UK film and TV production that came in the wake of the Potter films."
Metro
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Metro
HBO shoots down claims Harry Potter TV show will be 'most expensive ever made'
The highly anticipated TV adaptation of the Harry Potter series has been reported to be a record-breaker before it even hits screens. HBO will adapt each of JK Rowling's wizarding tomes into a season of television, as part of a ten-year plan to bring a new generation of viewers to the long-untouched Hogwarts IP. The budget reported so far would make the HBO show the most expensive ever to be made, trouncing Prime Video's $465 million (£399 million) price tag for Rings of Power. The Express reported each episode would cost £75 million to make, boosting the UK economy by billions. However, a source close to the production has now confirmed to Metro that the reported figure is inaccurate. Instead, the production costs will be on a par with Game of Thrones' budget. The eighth season of the show was its most expensive, costing roughly $15 million (almost £12 million at the time) per episode. Yet the wizarding adaptation is set to be a high numbers affair regardless, with 30,000 young hopefuls having thrown their name into the sorting hat at the casting director's office, each vying to follow in the footsteps of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint. HBO has now confirmed Dominic McLaughlin, Arabella Stanton and Alastair Stout have been cast as Harry, Hermione and Ron in their first screen acting roles. The production had already shared a swathe of casting announcements, with John Lithgow set to play headmaster Albus Dumbledore, I May Destroy You star Paapa Essiedu taking on Severus Snape and Nick Frost as Hagrid. The benefit to the UK from the next decade of Potterdom is said to be 'probably incalculable', according to Tom Harrington, an analyst at Enders Analysis. He told The Times: 'It's not just the box office, the merchandise, the tourists or the tours arising from the books, but the resurgence of big UK film and TV production that came in the wake of the Potter films.' Pictures have already emerged of the £1billion 'mini city' being built for the adaptation at the Warner Bros studio complex in Leavesden. The vast studio extension reportedly includes a (real) school for its young actors, who will continue their education as they juggle shooting responsibilities with their studies. More Trending Francesca Gardiner, who's worked on Killing Eve and His Dark Materials, will serve as showrunner after winning out a hugely competitive process, which required writing a pilot script and being interviewed by Rowling for the sign-off. She'll be joined by directing wizard Mark Mylod, the talent behind Succession and the pivotal attack on Jackson in the second season of The Last of Us. The first season is set to begin filming this summer and will arrive on screens in 2026. View More » The Harry Potter TV show will stream exclusively on Max in 2026. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Where have you seen the new Harry Potter cast trio before? MORE: The new Harry Potter child stars have confirmed my worst fears MORE: Pillion review – I experienced one of the filthiest films I've ever seen at Cannes
Buzz Feed
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Buzz Feed
Alex Tarrant Interview — Voices Of The Pacific
BuzzFeed: As much as I loved the original Lord of the Rings movies, they faced a lot of criticism over their casting — and lack thereof — of Māori actors. So, I was thrilled that the Rings of Power show moved in the right direction this time around. How did it feel stepping into the world of J. R. R. Tolkien and portraying Valandil, especially since filming for Season 1 took place in New Zealand? You really brought Valandil to life and turned him into a fan favorite. But in Season 2, he was killed, and I remember screaming at my TV when that happened! It was such a heartbreaking scene. Would you ever come back for a flashback or dream sequence? Do you have a favorite behind-the-scenes memory on the set of Rings of Power? You starred alongside Vanessa Lachey in NCIS: Hawai'i as Kai Holman. What connected you to that character? From Vegas to the iconic Shortland Street, you've been in many New Zealand shows and films. While Pacific Islander representation in the US is slowly but surely increasing, we're not quite at New Zealand's level yet, like you mentioned. What steps do we need to take to get there, and what do you hope to see in the coming years? When we were talking about NCIS earlier, you spoke about essentially manifesting that role for yourself. So I'm curious, what would you like to manifest next? Which Pacific Islander actors inspired you most on your journey? For Pacific Islanders, there are so many aspects of our cultures that we hold close to our hearts, from our foods to our dances to our tattoos. What's your favorite part of your culture? Do you have a favorite Pacific Islander food? You've previously spoken about learning the Māori language with your son, which I found very moving. I'm Samoan, and though my mom speaks the language, she didn't pass it down to me so I'm trying to learn on my own. Are you still learning, and how important is it to you that your son connects with your Māori, Samoan, and Niuean cultures? Your portrayal of Leo in the Canadian-New Zealand film Night Raiders earned you a Vancouver Film Critics Circle nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Canadian Film. What did that recognition mean to you? If you could work with any Pacific Islander, who would it be? What advice do you have for young Pacific Islander creatives? Finally, what does being Pacific Islander mean to you? Thank you for chatting with us, Alex! Be sure to keep up with Alex here.
Forbes
19-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
An Update On ‘The Wheel Of Time' Season 4 On Amazon Prime Video
Wheel of Time The Wheel of Time just wrapped up what seems to inarguably be its best series yet, finally making it to the top of Netflix's most-watched shows list for its finale. Most would agree it's better than the (wildly more expensive) Rings of Power, and now the question becomes, will The Wheel of Time get a season 4? Even if it's not LOTR, it's still an expensive, VFX-filled fantasy production. But there is promising news about season 4 based on what we know. Actor Josha Stradowski (Rand al'Thor) did an interview with TechRadar and said the following: And here's showrunner Rafe Judkins on his conversations with Amazon: So the idea is that Amazon wants longer-running, complete series, though with Wheel of Time the complication is that there are roughly 14 books in the series, and this isn't going to run for 14 seasons, 'long term' commitments or otherwise. This isn't Grey's Anatomy. So, how do you do a complete run of the show? It's a big question. Wheel of Time But all of this implies the obvious existence of a season 4, and with a well-watched, incredibly highly rated season (97% on Rotten Tomatoes, 15-20% higher than the first two seasons) you would imagine that a season 4 announcement would be coming soon. Amazon has suffered a blow with The Rings of Power season 2 having its viewership reportedly drop by half compared to season 1. I do not imagine that is happening to the same extent with The Wheel of Time, and maybe it's time to wrap up Rings of Power and focus harder on its better, cheaper fantasy counterpart. I would expect a season 4 announcement for The Wheel of Time shortly, and so does the cast and crew, it seems. Follow me on Twitter, YouTube, and Bluesky Pick up my sci-fi novels the Herokiller series and The Earthborn Trilogy.
The Independent
03-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Elijah Wood defends how little he got paid for starring in Lord of the Rings: ‘It doesn't matter'
Elijah Wood has shared that while the Lord of the Rings films went on to become box office blockbusters, the cast's salaries didn't reflect it. In August last year, Cate Blanchett, who played the elf Galadriel, spoke about the low pay saying: 'No one got paid anything to do that movie. I basically got free sandwiches, and I got to keep my ears as pay,' she joked on Watch What Happens Live. Wood said he agreed with what Blanchett had said but added context around why the pay was low despite the movies doing so well. 'Because we weren't making one movie and then renegotiating a contract for the next, it wasn't the sort of lucrative scenario that you could sort of rest easy for the rest of your life,' Wood, who played one of the trilogy's leads – the hobbit Frodo – told Business Insider at the 2025 Texas Film Awards. The films, directed by Peter Jackson and released in the early noughties, brought in $2.9bn (£2.2bn) worldwide. Made on a budget of about $281m (£214m), the films went on to spawn several spinoffs, including the Hobbit trilogy and the Rings of Power TV series. Wood explained that production company New Line Cinema had taken 'a real gamble' on the massive ensemble cast for the trilogy which included the likes of Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Orlando Bloom, John Rhys-Davies, Christopher Lee, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, and Sean Bean. Describing the trade-off as 'understandable', Wood said the studio cushioned the risk by the cast's 'not massive salaries'. Since the cast members were shooting the films back-to-back, it left them no opportunity to renegotiate their contracts if the films did well. 'The benefit of that was that we were also signing up for something that was going to be a part of our lives forever,' he said. Asked about rumours that he was paid $250,000 (£190,000) for The Fellowship of the Ring, Wood disputed the figure, but didn't share more. 'It doesn't matter,' he said. However, other cast members have spoken about their salaries previously. In 2019, Orlando Bloom, who was cast as the elf Legolas when he was 22, said on The Howard Stern Show that he received $175,000 (£133,000) for all three films. 'Nothing, nothing, nothing. I got nothing. $175 grand for three movies… No listen, greatest gift of my life, are you kidding me? Would do it again for half the money,' he said. Sean Astin, who played Frodo's loyal companion Samwise Gamgee, said in 2017 he got $250,000 (£190,000) for the trilogy, and even ended up selling his house. 'I did the audition process and got offered ' Lord of the Rings ' and it was an offer for $250,000 for a year and a half,' he said on the Jim & Sam Show, adding that his mortgage was $250,000 a year, which he couldn't afford on this salary. 'And I was like, 'Wait a minute, my pen signed this contract which obligated me to $250,000 a year and I'm gonna sign this contract which will make it so that I absolutely cannot satisfy that other thing.'' 'So it was $75,000 (£75,000) a movie. No residuals.' 'Statements like that are not made with any kind of ire. It's such an honour to have been a part of those films and they represent some of the best experiences of my life.'
