Andor Season 2’s Budget Reportedly Bigger Than Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker

As a seasoned gamer with countless hours spent in virtual worlds, I can tell you that Andor’s budget of $290.9 million for just one season is a staggering amount that would make even the most hardcore MMO (Massively Multiplayer Online) game developers green with envy!

Disney has shared extensive details about the production expenses for their Star Wars streaming series, Andor, featuring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor. This two-season prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story comes with a grand total production cost exceeding $645 million. The budget for Andor Season 2 is set at an impressive $290.9 million, indicating the substantial financial commitment towards one of the franchise’s largest productions yet.

Andor Season 2’s budget revealed to be $290.9 million

Disney’s recent disclosure indicates that the production budget for the two-season Star Wars streaming series, Andor, exceeds $645 million (as per Deadline).

In terms of production expenses, Season 2 of Andor outstripped the $275 million budget of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker (2019), amounting to a whopping $290.9 million. This makes Andor one of the costliest productions within the Star Wars universe, as per U.K. financial records linked to tax incentive programs.

Filming for Season 2 of Production started in November 2022 but had to halt during mid-2023 due to a labor strike by SAG-AFTRA. It resumed in January 2024 and wrapped up in February. The initial budget was $290.9 million, though additional expenses incurred post-2023 are not included, suggesting the final cost may be higher. Post-production work such as visual effects is still ongoing, contributing to the overall increased cost.

Andor, in turn, gained from the United Kingdom’s tax refund scheme, pocketing approximately $129 million in returns (as reported by Forbes). To be eligible for refunds amounting to up to 25.5% of qualifying costs, productions in the U.K. must adhere to certain conditions, such as employing U.K.-based personnel and utilizing local studios. This tax refund substantially lowered Disney’s expenditure on the series, which they filmed at Pinewood Studios and various other locations within the United Kingdom.

Creator Tony Gilroy conceived Andor as a two-part prequel to Star Wars Story: Rogue One, with each part making up a season. The series traces Cassian Andor’s adventure, leading right up to the days preceding Rogue One’s events. It is anticipated that Season 2 will debut in April 2025, wrapping up the intended narrative arc.

The TV series Andor demonstrates the massive financial scope of contemporary streaming productions, boasting a total budget of $645 million. This substantial expense is attributed to its complex narrative structure and heavy reliance on both practical and digital special effects, thereby representing a sizable investment for Disney and the Star Wars franchise.

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2024-12-26 14:40