Disney’s acclaimed Star Wars series Andor has officially become the most expensive project in the franchise’s history, with a total budget of $705.5 million for its two seasons. This amount surpasses the spending on any Star Wars movie and highlights the massive investment Disney made in the streaming series.
The revelation comes from recent financial filings by E&E Industries, the UK-based production company Disney set up for the show. These documents show that the series spent an additional $60.5 million in 2024 as it completed work on its second season, bringing the cumulative total to over $705 million. Despite the enormous sum, the production was reported to have stayed within its allocated budget.
Where the Numbers Come From
The budget for Andor became public knowledge due to a unique requirement for productions filming in the United Kingdom. Companies operating there must file detailed financial statements with the authorities to qualify for tax incentives.
These legally-binding documents provide a rare, transparent look into the costs of a major streaming production, which are usually kept secret. The filings for E&E Industries revealed that by November 22, 2024, a total of $705.5 million had been spent on both seasons of Andor. The final costs are expected to be even higher, as the documents for the period covering the show’s final post-production and release this year will be filed later.
Series creator Tony Gilroy had previously stated the show cost $650 million for its 24 episodes. The difference in figures may relate to the specific timing of the financial reports and what final costs they included. Gilroy noted the significant financial commitment, saying, “I mean, [for] Disney this is $650 million for 24 episodes.”
A Costly and Ambitious Production
Several factors contributed to the series’ high price tag. Andor was known for its extensive use of practical effects and physical sets, a deliberate choice to create a more grounded and tangible world compared to the digital-heavy approach of other Star Wars projects. Building these real-world environments is often more costly upfront than creating digital ones.
The production also faced significant unexpected challenges. Filming was heavily delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic and later by the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strikes in 2023. These shutdowns added millions in additional costs, with the strikes alone reportedly adding around $20 million to the budget.
Furthermore, the show featured a massive crew. The financial filings show that $85.5 million was paid to staff, the highest wage bill for any Disney production in the UK over the past 15 years. The number of people working on the show peaked at an average of 501 per month in 2023, not including numerous freelancers and contractors.
How Andor Compares to Other Star Wars Projects
The budget for Andor‘s two seasons easily eclipses the spending on Star Wars feature films. For comparison, The Last Jedi had a reported budget of $312 million, while The Force Awakens cost about $447 million. This makes Andor the most expensive Star Wars project ever produced.
The spending also far exceeds that of other Star Wars streaming shows. The upcoming film The Mandalorian & Grogu has a reported production budget of $166 million. This strategic lower budget is part of Disney’s shift back to theatrical releases with cost-effective projects.
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Fighting for the Budget
Creating the second season of Andor required the team to fight for its resources. Tony Gilroy revealed that during the making of Season 2, Disney told them, “Streaming is dead, we don’t have the money we had before.” He said they had to “fight hard about money” but ultimately preserved the show’s creative vision without compromise.
Despite the budget battles, Gilroy acknowledged the freedom he was given, stating that he never took a creative note from the studio and that Disney “never cleaned anything up.” This creative trust allowed the show to explore mature themes of fascism, revolution, and assault within the Star Wars universe.
The series concluded its run on Disney+ in May 2025, having received widespread critical acclaim for its writing, acting, and production quality, with many fans and critics calling it some of the best content in the Star Wars franchise.
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