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Andor Sets New Record in Star Wars Franchise

Andor Sets New Record in Star Wars Franchise

Overview

  • Andor boasts an impressive 96% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
  • The upcoming Season 2 aims to bridge the narrative gaps in Cassian’s journey.
  • This series registers the highest production budget for any Star Wars TV project to date.

With a remarkable 96% rating, Andor ranks among the highest-rated live-action Star Wars series on Rotten Tomatoes. A recent analysis has revealed that this series also carries one of the highest production costs.

Andor serves as a prequel to Gareth Edwards’ 2016 film, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, which depicted the courageous efforts of rebels to acquire the plans for the Death Star. The series, featuring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, focuses on his formative experiences and the essence of rebellion during the alliance’s early days. The first season, released in 2022, garnered widespread acclaim for its darker tone and mature themes within the Star Wars universe. Audiences can anticipate the release of Season 2 in 2025, which will further explore Cassian’s narrative leading up to the events of Rogue One.

Unpacking Andor’s Production Budget

The success of Andor within the Star Wars franchise is evident, as it received three Primetime Emmy nominations post-release. However, the road to this achievement came at a considerable cost. According to a Forbes report, the combined expenses for both seasons have approached $645 million, with Season 2 alone estimated to cost around $290 million. This figure doesn’t represent the final budget, as filming extended beyond 2023 due to industry strikes, which means additional costs will surface as production continues into 2024. This spending marks a historic high within the Star Wars franchise, exceeding the budgets of The Last Jedi ($280 million) and The Force Awakens ($243 million).

Typically, production budgets remain confidential; however, UK regulations compelled Disney to disclose the financials for Andor. This unprecedented expenditure isn’t entirely unexpected, considering Disney’s other Star Wars television series have also incurred significant costs. For instance, The Acolyte had a reported budget of $230 million before its cancellation after just one season. Meanwhile, the newer Star Wars series, Skeleton Crew, while receiving positive reviews, amassed a noteworthy budget of approximately $136 million. Andor stands out not just for its quality but also for its financial commitment within a competitive landscape.

Star Wars Andor Ship Canon
Serkis in Andor
Vel Sartha and Cinta Kaz in Andor

Will Andor’s Budget Influence Future Star Wars Productions?

Upon its debut, Andor received a positive reception from both fans and critics. Nevertheless, some reports indicated that its viewership fell short compared to other Star Wars live-action series like Obi-Wan Kenobi and The Mandalorian, likely due to its mature themes that appeal less to younger audiences and the inherent tension of following a character whose fate was predetermined in Rogue One. As Andor is designed to span two seasons, its renewal was never in question. However, Disney will closely monitor the series’ performance to evaluate its return on investment given the substantial production expenses.

The substantial budgets associated with Andor have sparked discussions about potential cutbacks in Disney’s Star Wars television ventures. Currently, few Star Wars projects are in full development, including Ahsoka Season 2 and Star Wars: Visions Season 3.

Fans can look forward to an exciting continuation with Andor Season 2 scheduled for release in April 2025.

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