Game of Thrones: Brexit won't impact production, HBO says

Helen Sloan/HBO

Don’t worry, Game of Thrones fans, HBO isn’t going to have to make Vancouver look like Westeros.


Contrary to some presumptive online reports, Brexit is not expected to financially impact HBO’s Game of Thrones, the premium network tells EW.

Britain’s surprise vote to leave the European Union has prompted some analysts to assume HBO might not be able to draw on a certain filmmaking fund to produce the expected final two seasons. Thrones’ production home base is in Northern Ireland, goes the reasoning, and since Northern Ireland is part of the UK, and the European Regional Development Fund is part of a European program to incentivize productions to film in Europe, part of Thrones’ funding might get cut off.

There’s just one problem with this: HBO has not taken money from the Fund for the last few seasons anyway. The network released this statement: “We do not anticipate that the result of the EU Referendum will have any material effect on HBO producing Game of Thrones.” The show does get funding and tax incentives from other regional programs, but they’re not ones that are expected to be impacted by the vote.

So there you go. Meanwhile, Sunday’s super-sized finale is coming – the 69-minute “The Winds of Winter.” EW will have interviews and a recap after the show.