Game of Thronesfinal season most expensive yet: Report

HBO smash reportedly to top $15 million per episode

This probably isnt too surprising.

But nowVarietyhas put a hard number on it: $15 million per episode.

Thats how much the eighth and final season ofGoTis estimated to cost.

By comparison, the shows first season was priced around $6 million per episode.

The new budget number is unconfirmed (HBO, like most networks, doesnt reveal shows budgets).

Still, thats an impressive figure.

But then the per-episode number will drop significantly.

And as an out-of-time fantasy hit, HBO knows current and new fans will continue paying to watchGoTfor decades.

Plus the data pipe owns the lucrative international distribution and merchandising rights to the show.

So every penny spent making the final season an epic event likely pays dividends down the road.

The final season starts shooting in October and will premiere in either late 2018 or 2019.