The ambitious Disney+ project with Andor exceeds 645 million dollars between its two seasons
The very distant galaxy had never been so expensive. With AndorDisney and Lucasfilm have chosen stronger than ever, launching a series with a radically different approach and a budget that could finance several whole planets from the Star Wars universe. The surprising thing is not only the figure – over 645 million dollars between two seasons – but Fans and criticisms agree that it was worth it.
While other projects such as The Mandalorian or Obi-Wan Kenobi They opted for shooting in LED studies with virtual scenarios, Andor He chose the most risky path: real places, gigantic physical sets and a more mature and complex narrative. That decision not only increased the cost, but also the level.
The most expensive bet of Disney + +
Forbes confirmed that the second season of Andor It was the most expensive in the story of Star Wars on televisionwith an expense of at least 290.9 million dollars until November 2023. And that without counting the remaining three months, which increase estimates to more than 300 or even 400 million For that single lot of 12 episodes.
Comparisons? The MandalorianWith three seasons, it cost about 360 million. Self -cable, Skeleton crew y Ahsoka They remain below 230 million each. Andor it is in another league, like a stellar destroyer among the X-Wing fighters.
Part of the fault is Tony Gilroy, Showrunner and Creator, who wanted to deselect the visual approach of the rest of the series. No digital funds from “Il Volume”: here Each rebellious city and every hostile planet feels tangible, real, full of consistency. Ferrix, for example, was built as a complete city; Adria Arjona, who plays Bix, confessed to having lost inside the set during his first visit.
And it’s not just a matter of scenarios
Each season has 12 episodes – in front of the usual 6 or 8 – and a narrative structure that takes the time to develop characters, atmospheres and political tensions. Andor It is not just an action, it is espionage, ethics and a study of fear against authoritarianism.
The outdoor rod also increasesAnd when you choose Scottish Highlands to tell your story, time and logistics make their own. But all this pays: the series has a quality of the film that many films of the saga would compensate.
Andor is not just another series of Star Wars, it is art with Blásteres
Andor He was not born from all happy, but a Challenges what we understand from Star Wars. Although it started with a modest audience, the mouth of the mouth and the enthusiastic criticisms have transformed him into a jewel of worship. Where other productions seem “content”, Andor It seems like A declaration of intentions.
Is a prequel Rogue OneYes, but he does not just explain how Cassian Andor becomes a rebellious hero. Go further, exploring The shades of the imperial system, the personal cost of the resistance and the moral gray areas where its protagonists live.
A series without jis, without laser saber, without skywalker? Exactly. And that’s why he worked. Because it has shown that the Star Wars universe can live – and shine – without constant nostalgia or easy cameo.
The obvious question: is this model sustainable? Not clearly. Neither Lucasfilm nor Disney can afford to make each series a success of this caliber. But they can learn from Andor That the public responds when there is quality, risk and authenticity.
The second season arrives in Disney+ on April 22 with three episodes of premiereAnd expectations are in the clouds. If you follow the path of the first, it will not only be one of the best series of Star Wars, but one of the best science fiction series of the decade.