‘Andor’s Budget is Higher Than ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ and Other ‘Star Wars’ Movies

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As a seasoned cinephile with decades of Star Wars fandom under my belt, I must say that the news about the budget for ‘Andor’ Season 2 has left me both astonished and slightly apprehensive. While I wholeheartedly appreciate the effort put into creating such an immersive and engaging series, the question remains: is the investment justified?

The budget rivals that of Netflix’s hit shows like Stranger Things and Wednesday, surpassing even the cost of The Rise of Skywalker. Given the SAG-AFTRA strike and the subsequent delays in production, it seems that the costs have spiraled higher than expected. But let’s not forget the tax rebate from filming in the U.K., which will undoubtedly help ease the financial burden to some extent.

The legacy of Rogue One looms large over Andor, and Tony Gilroy has a challenging task on his hands. The show must deliver a worthy conclusion that satisfies fans while avoiding the pitfalls that have befallen other Star Wars projects in recent years. I’m reminded of the old adage: “With great power comes great responsibility.”

I can’t help but recall a joke from one of my favorite films, A New Hope – remember when R2-D2 and C-3PO were discussing the cost of repairs? “We’re doomed!” They said, in unison. Well, Andor might be facing a similar predicament, but I have faith that Gilroy and his team will pull through. After all, they’ve got this… galaxy far, far away to save!

The Star Wars franchise has consistently spared no expense to ensure their films and television shows are visually stunning. This is evident in the latest disclosure that the current project for the space opera series now ranks among the costliest, boasting a total budget of $645 million spread across two seasons, with an impressive $290.9 million earmarked for Season 2 alone.

The new season of this series has a per-episode budget similar to that of Netflix’s Stranger Things and Wednesday, and even surpasses the $275 million budget of The Rise of Skywalker. In other words, producing another season of Andor comes with a higher price tag. Although Andor is one of Lucasfilm and Disney’s most notable projects, boasting a near-flawless narrative in its first season, it remains unclear whether the investment justifies its cost.

It’s worth noting that due to unforeseen circumstances, such as the SAG-AFTRA strike, our budget wasn’t fully anticipated. Filming for Season 2 started in 2022, but it was halted halfway through 2023 because of the strike. Production resumed in January 2024 and concluded in February. Consequently, this delay is expected to increase the overall costs substantially, and when all expenses are tallied up, which won’t be until after 2023, the total may end up being even higher than initially projected because it doesn’t account for any spending beyond that date.

Consequently, due to filming being done in the U.K., it appears that the production was eligible for a tax refund of approximately $129 million. This refund should significantly reduce the overall expenses for Disney in real dollars.

‘Andor’ Season 2 Has a Tough Legacy to Maintain

From the beginning, Andor was designed as a two-season series, with creator Tony Gilroy already knowing the final destination due to his involvement in Rogue One. The show manages not to overstay its welcome because it has a limited storyline to explore, which in turn keeps the series compact and focused.

As a devoted Star Wars enthusiast, I can confidently say that “Rogue One” stands among the finest offerings in the Star Wars universe, rivaling even the classics of the original trilogy. Now, with “Andor” gracefully expanding upon this foundation, it has become one of the most acclaimed Star Wars shows on Disney+. Yet, this newfound success casts a heavy burden – the need to wrap up this series with a fitting finale that lives up to its preceding excellence.

Initially, “The Mandalorian” debuted as an outstanding show on Disney+, receiving widespread acclaim from both critics and viewers. But by Season 3, the initial spark and novelty of this series, which introduced us to Grogu, a de-aged Mark Hamill portraying Luke Skywalker, and the return of beloved character Boba Fett, seemed to lose its luster in comparison to a less compelling spinoff series.

Andor, unlike anything else, appears to be a meticulously crafted series from the beginning, according to Gilroy. He’s had ample time to refine the narrative, dialogue, and smoothen out any minor issues that might lead viewers to sigh or deduct points in their reviews. With Season 2 slated for release in April 2025, fans don’t have long to wait before seeing how the tale of Andor and Rogue One comes together and concludes the story.

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2024-12-30 17:02