Harry Potter TV series budget tops $200 million so far
Earnings filings from HBO-owned Plum Jam Productions show the first season's spending, with per-episode costs reported in line with Game of Thrones.
The Harry Potter TV series has cost more than $200 million so far, according to earnings filings from HBO-owned production company Plum Jam Productions reported by screenrant.com. The figure covers spending on the show as it moves toward its first season.
The filings show production revenue of nearly $175 million when the series entered production, plus about $25 million in 2024 during preparation. Episodic budgets are reported to be on par with Game of Thrones, House of the Dragon and The Last of Us.
The first season is titled Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone and is set for release on December 25, 2026 on HBO and HBO Max. Francisca Gardiner is showrunner, with Mark Mylod directing and Dominic McLaughlin playing Harry Potter.
Season two, Chamber of Secrets, is set to begin production in late 2026. The plan is for the show to run seven seasons over a decade, each covering one of the books.
HBO's fantasy benchmark
Game of Thrones had episodic budgets of around $15 million in its final season, while House of the Dragon ran at $15-20 million per episode and The Last of Us at $10-15 million. The Harry Potter films ended about fifteen years before the TV adaptation.
Quick answers
When does the Harry Potter TV series premiere?
The first season, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, is set for release on December 25, 2026 on HBO and HBO Max.
How much has the Harry Potter TV show cost?
Plum Jam Productions earnings filings indicate a budget of over $200 million so far.
How many seasons will the Harry Potter TV show have?
The plan is for seven seasons over a decade, each covering one book, with season two set to start production in late 2026.