‘Wolf Hall’ Producer Says Cost of Making U.K. Drama Has Risen ‘Exponentially’ Due to U.S. Streamers: ‘It’s Caused Us a Real Problem’

variety.com:

K.J. Yossman “Wolf Hall: The Mirror and The Light” producer Colin Callender has blamed the influx of U.S. streamers for driving up the cost of drama production in the U.K., saying it has “caused us a real problem.” “In the 10 years since we made the first show [“Wolf Hall”], the cost of producing drama in the U.K.

has gone through the roof,” Callender said after a preview screening of the Hilary Mantel adaptation this week. “It’s increased exponentially.

And ironically, in spite of all the talk about the inward investment from America being great for the industry, it’s caused us a real problem, because it’s meant that the streamers in particular are paying significantly more money for talent, locations and so on.” “And so when you take the combination of inflation, cost of living, the extraordinary increase in rates that talent are being paid, in part because of the streamers, it’s made producing drama of this scale very, very challenging for British producers.” Callender is CEO of Playground Entertainment, which produces the “Wolf Hall” series as well as other shows including “All Creatures Great & Small.” The first season of “Wolf Hall,” based on the first two books of Mantel’s trilogy about Henry VIII’s advisor Thomas Cromwell, was released in 2015, starring Mark Rylance as Cromwell and Damien Lewis as Henry VIII.

Claire Foy played Henry’s second wife Anne Bolyen, who was axed – literally – at the end of the first season. It was another five years before Mantel, who died unexpectedly in 2022, published the final book, titled “The Mirror and The Light.” The adaptation of the novel was delayed further by the COVID pandemic, the actors’ schedules and the locations, many of which are real Tudor buildings, meaning the.