Why Brexit is bad news for ‘Game of Thrones’
HBO
Kit Harington as Jon Snow in the “Battle of the Bastards” on “Game of Thrones.”
The ramifications of Britain’s decision to leave the European Union could even reach Westeros.
HBO’s “Game of Thrones” stands to lose a great deal of funding that it receives for shooting in Northern Ireland, according to Foreign Policy.
The series shoots in Ireland quite a bit. That, for example, is where it was able to pull off the breathtaking “Battle of the Bastards” on the most recent episode.
Additionally, Ireland is the setting for the show’s Haunted Forest; the Brotherhood Without Banners’ hideout, Pollnagollum Cave; the Dothraki grasslands; the city of Meereen; and the Starks’ home, Winterfell.
So how could Brexit affect “Game of Thrones”?
Setting up productions in Ireland’s amazing locales is an expensive operation. In order to afford to do so, HBO receives funding from the EU’s European Regional Development Fund. The fund is aimed at stimulating the economic growth for countries in the EU.
Now that Britain is leaving the EU, so does Ireland, which is part of the UK. That means companies shooting in Ireland will no longer be able to take advantage of the aid and savings provided by EU funding. Though it should be noted that the process of leaving the EU is gradual.
Other shows that shoot in Ireland include History Channel’s “Vikings,” Showtime’s “Penny Dreadful,” and Netflix’s “The Fall.”
HBO didn’t immediately respond to Business Insider’s request for comment.
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