Disney and Lucasfilm’s Andor series is one of the best Star Wars projects that has been produced, and it turns out that it’s also one of the most expensive Star Wars projects ever produced, with its two-season run reportedly costing over $645 million, which surpasses the $275 million production budget of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
This hefty price tag highlights Disney’s substantial investment in streaming content, even as the industry recalibrates amidst shifting financial landscapes.
A report from Forbes broke down the staggering costs, citing a yearly U.K. financial disclosure required for productions benefiting from tax rebates. The second season alone has already cost over $290.9 million, with additional expenses likely to push that number higher as post-production costs are finalized.
For context, this dwarfs the budget of many blockbuster films, reflecting the cinematic scope and ambition of Andor. While the production’s costs on the project were insanely high, Disney is set to receive a $129 million tax rebate for the series, thanks to the U.K.’s incentives for high-budget productions.
Production delays, caused by the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes, played a big role in inflating the budget. Showrunner Tony Gilroy paused all writing duties on May 1, 2023, during the WGA strike, and filming was temporarily halted in July due to the SAG-AFTRA walkout.
These interruptions not only extended the production timeline but also drove up costs. Despite the challenges, Gilroy remained steadfast in his vision, crafting a two-season arc that culminates just days before the events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
“Our final scene has always been known, which will be walking [Cassian Andor] into the first scene of Rogue One.”
The events of the first season covered the first year of that period, but the story for Season 2 is going to play out over the course of four years.
The synopsis reads: “Andor, the acclaimed thriller, returns for its long-awaited conclusion. The twelve episodes of Season Two will carry the story of Cassian Andor and the emerging rebel alliance over the climactic four years that lead to the discovery of The Death Star and the events of Rogue One.
“Season One followed Cassian’s reluctant journey from cynical nobody to revolutionary volunteer. Andor Season Two will see him transform from soldier to leader to hero on the way to his epic destiny. From the very first scene, Cassian’s story has activated an ever-widening ensemble of allies and enemies.
“Season Two will see these relationships intensify as the horizon of galactic war draws near. Everyone will be tested and, as the stakes rise, the betrayals, sacrifices, and conflicting agendas will become profound. Who will live to see their dream realized? Who will realize what the dream cost?”
When talking about his journey in the new season, Luna recently said: “He’s a man fully committed to the Rebellion. It’s someone who has to ascend. There’s a huge mountain for him to climb in order to [become] the guy we meet in Rogue One.”
It’s pretty crazy how high the budget is on this thing, but the creative team sure has created something incredible, and I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story plays out over the course of Season 2.
Andor Season 2 will premiere on Disney+ on April 22, 2025.
