Marvel heroesRobert Downey Jr.andChris Prattwill soon be among the highest-paid stars on TV, according to a new report fromVariety.
Don’t worry, you haven’t missed Downey and Pratt’s new shows, they just haven’t premiered yet. Downey hasn’t even started shootingHBO and A24’s adaptation ofViet Thanh Nguyen’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novelThe Sympathizer, which hails from acclaimed South Korean directorPark Chan-wook(Oldboy), but he’ll receive at least $2 million per episode, though that likely includes his producing fee as well.
Meanwhile,Pratt’sThe Terminal List, which pairs him withTaylor Kitsch,Constance WuandRiley Keough, has yet to premiere on Amazon Prime Video, but he’ll be pulling down $1.4 million per episode for that show. Amazon recently saw strong streaming numbers from Pratt’s sci-fi action movieThe Tomorrow War, so he may very well be worth that kind of investment, though I imagine being the star of two global franchises –Jurassic WorldandGuardians of the Galaxy– will give you leverage in any negotiation.
Know what else can help your negotiating position? A little gold man named Oscar. Variety reports thatJeff Bridgesis being paid $1 million per episode to star inFX’s spy seriesThe Old Manand that his fellow Oscar winnerKate Winsletwas paid $650,000 per episode onMare of Easttown, which brought the British actress her third Emmy nomination. Oscar winnerViola Davisis earning $600,000 for each episode ofThe First Ladyon Showtime, as are her distinguished co-starsMichelle PfeifferandGillian Anderson, a former Emmy winner herself. Showtime is under pressure to compete with streamers for top talent, which can command big bucks from streamers upfront in lieu of downstream syndication deals and the sale of international rights.
RELATED:‘Your Honor’ Review: Bryan Cranston’s Familiar Showtime Drama Is Out of Order
Speaking of Emmy winners,Sarah Jessica Parkerand herSex and the Cityco-starsCynthia NixonandKristin Davislikely negotiated as a group, as Variety says each actress will be paid between $650,000 and $750,000 for each episode of the follow-up seriesAnd Just Like That…Another group of actors commanding the same salary for a comeback series isThe ConnerscastSara Gilbert,John GoodmanandLaurie Metcalf, who each pull down $400,000 per episode.
Veteran TV actors such asBryan CranstonandAlec Baldwinraked in $750,000 and $575,000, respectively, for Showtime’sYour HonorandPeacock’sDr. Death, while old palsSteve MartinandMartin Shortwere paid $600,000 apiece for each episode of the upcoming Hulu seriesOnly Murders in the Building. It doesn’t even matter how many people actually watch these shows, since each network and streamer defines success by a different metric, so a hit for Peacock may not even register as a blip on Netflix’s radar. Not that streamers are terribly interested in transparency. They only reveal viewing numbers when something is a hit or they’re practically forced to by the media.
Variety made sure to note thatJason Sudekis' salary of $400,000 per episode was just for Season 1 ofTed Lasso, hinting that the multi-hyphenate earned himself a significant raise in subsequent seasons. That would make sense, given the record-breaking number of Emmy nominations earned by the Apple series. Hopefully,Henry Cavillnegotiates a raise from Netflix asThe Witchercontinues on at the streaming giant, where it has spawned a budding franchise. He seems like a bargain to me.
Traditional broadcast networks still shell out from time to time, as NBC is doing with proven TV starTed Danson, who earns $400,000 per episode ofMr. Mayor, whileAngela Bassettmakes $450,000 per episode on Fox’s9-1-1. Of course, the more money a show spends on its top star, the less there is for the rest of the cast, so there’s often a dramatic disparity among actors on set. As for how HBO compensates the ensemble cast of its hit drama seriesSuccession, well, you’ll have to scroll down for the full chart, courtesy of Variety.
Robert Downey Jr.,The Sympathizer(HBO) - at least $2 million
Chris Pratt,The Terminal List(Amazon) - $1.4 million
Jeff Bridges,The Old Man(FX) - $1 million
Bryan Cranston,Your Honor(Showtime) - $750,000
Sarah Jessica Parker,And Just Like That…(HBO Max) - $650,000-$750,000
Cynthia Nixon,And Just Like That…(HBO Max) - $650,000-$750,000
Kristin Davis,And Just Like That…(HBO Max) - $650,000-$750,000
Kate Winslet,Mare of Easttown(HBO) - $650,000
Gillian Anderson,The First Lady(Showtime) - $600,000
Viola Davis,The First Lady(Showtime) - $600,000
Michelle Pfeiffer,The First Lady(Showtime) - $600,000
Pedro Pascal,The Last of Us(HBO) - $600,000
Steve Martin,Only Murders in the Building(Hulu) - $600,000
Martin Short,Only Murders in the Building(Hulu) - $600,000
Alec Baldwin,Dr. Death(Peacock) - $575,000
Angela Bassett,9-1-1(Fox) - $450,000
Jude Law,The Third Day(HBO) - $425,000
Brian Cox,Succession(HBO) - $400,000-$500,000
Jason Sudeikis,Ted Lasso(Apple) - $400,000 for Season 1
Henry Cavill,The Witcher(Netflix) - $400,000
Ted Danson,Mr. Mayor(NBC) - $400,000
Sara Gilbert,The Conners(ABC) - $400,000
John Goodman,The Conners(ABC) - $400,000
Laurie Metcalf,The Conners(ABC) - $400,000
David Harbour,Stranger Things(Netflix) - $350,000-$400,000
Winona Ryder,Stranger Things(Netflix) - $350,000-$400,000
Kieran Culkin,Succession(HBO) - $300,000-$350,000
Sarah Snook,Succession(HBO) - $300,000-$350,000
Jeremy Strong,Succession(HBO) - $300,000-$350,000
KEEP READING:Daniel Craig to Make $100 Million From ‘Knives Out’ Sequels, Other Star Salaries Revealed
