OneStar WarsTV show had a budget that surpassed even some ofStar Wars’best movies, and, despite public perception, it wasn’tThe Acolyte. Although movies have long dominatedtheStar Warstimeline, since the Skywalker Saga ended withStar Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,Star Wars’TV shows have become so much more important. Shows such asStar Wars Rebels,The Mandalorian,Ahsoka, andAndorhave had massive influences on the franchise, but one in particular stood head and shoulders above the rest in terms of cost.
According toForbes,Andorhad a massive $351.8 million budget, a price tag that beat out its feature-length predecessor,Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.Forbesreported:
“Recent filings reveal that by the time filming for the second season ofAndorbegan in November 2022, Disney had spent a staggering $351.8 million (£270.8 million) on the show…this is 8% more than the cost of makingRogue Oneand a shade less than the $364.5 million (£278.3 million) spent on 2018 box office bomb,Solo: A Star Wars Story.”
Andoris easily one ofStar Wars’best TV shows, and it has proven incredibly popular with audiences, but this is nevertheless an astonishingly high number, even for a live-actionStar Warsshow ofAndor’scaliber.
What Andor’s Costs Mean For Star Wars
FollowingThe Acolyteand the subsequent backlash to the show,Disney’s budgets have become increasingly scrutinized.The Acolyteproved incredibly controversial and was ultimately canceled, which only drew more attention to its $230.1 millioncost. This was evidently considerably lower than the expense ofAndor, but many still found the budget didn’t match the outcome (although, it’s worth noting, it was difficult to distinguish genuine criticism of the show from review bombing and virtriol directed at the actors).
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Andor’sbudget is different in that regard.Andoris widely considered some ofStar Wars’best work in recent years, so it’s less likely audiences would have sticker shock, even with the expense being so much greater for this show thanThe Acolyteor, apparently, someStar Warsmovies. Even so,Star Warswill very likely not continue to make shows that are this expensive. As a point of comparison, the MCU’sAgatha All Alongis the lowest-cost show in that franchise thus far, and budget cuts are likely to trend in the same direction forStar Wars.
Our Take On Andor’s Budget
Ultimately, it’s difficult to say whether a show such asAndoris ‘worth’ the cost, particularly when these discussions involve such staggering numbers. It’s a challenge to truly conceive of a $351.8 million budget and all the nuances that go into those decisions. Having said that,when compared withStar Warsmovies likeSolo, it makes sense that Disney would invest so much inAndor. In terms ofStar Wars’successes' of late,Andorhas been high on the list.
For a franchise that seems to be struggling, particularly in light of the at times alarming backlash toThe Acolyte, it makes sense that when the franchise felt it had something good, it would spare no expense to bring it to life. It will be interesting to see how this compares withAndorseason 2 and whether, ultimately,Andorseason 2 will pay off. Given the massive success ofAndorseason 1, it seems safe to assume it will, but, apparently,Star Warshas taken quite the financial gamble on the show.
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Andor
Cast
Andor is a Star Wars prequel series set before the events of Rogue One, following Cassian Andor as he navigates a world of danger and deception. The series delves into his transformation into a pivotal figure in the struggle against the Galactic Empire.
