Disney has revealed that the cost of making its highly acclaimed “Star Wars” streaming series “Andor” has now risen to $698.3 million over its two seasons after it spent a further $60.5 million in 2024 on final weeks of filming and much of the post-production of the show’s second season reports Forbes.
Going through recently disclosed and publicly filed records, the budget takes into account everything spent on production of the series through to November 22nd 2024.
Millions more from final post-production and release costs this year are expected to be added to the total when those results are released next year. Either way, it’s far higher than the spending on any of the movies in the franchise
The production made heavy use of practical effects and physical sets, which partly explains the large costs for the filming phase.
Production companies filming in the UK have to file annual financial statements – doing so reveals the costs of streaming shows in terms of production (but NOT marketing costs).
That said, the production was also the beneficiary of some major tax breaks from the UK Government, with 25.5% of the money they spend in the country reimbursed – receiving around $142.3 million in total reimbursement and tax credit.
Disney’s net spending on “Andor” is thus down to $552.4 million after deducting an insurance payout and payment from the pandemic grant.
Reportedly $85.5 million has been paid to staff – that’s the highest wage bill for any of the shows and movies made by Disney in the U.K. over the past fifteen years.
