‘Star Wars: The Acolyte’s’ Budget Turns Out to Be Much Higher Than First Reported

Star Wars: The Acolyte, the Disney+ spinoff set during the High Republic era, cost far more to make than originally reported. While early estimates put the budget at $180 million, new filings reveal that the total expenditure actually reached $230.8 million at current rates. Disney confirmed the 10.5% increase in costs ahead of the show’s release last year.

The series, created by Leslye Headland, premiered on June 4, 2024, with the first two episodes released together and the remaining six episodes following weekly through July 16.

The show starred Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Jodie Turner-Smith, Carrie-Anne Moss, and others. Headland had expressed interest in exploring the Star Wars universe from the villains’ perspective, and production began in October 2022 at Shinfield Studios in Berkshire, with additional filming in Wales and Portugal.

Despite generally favorable reviews from critics, The Acolyte divided fans and saw lower viewership than previous Star Wars series. The show even faced a review bombing campaign online.

Ultimately, Disney canceled it in August 2024 due to high costs and disappointing audience numbers, although the series still received recognition, including a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award nomination.

According to Disney’s filings, the total gross cost of $230.8 million breaks down to about $46.2 million per hour of content, which is 36 times higher than the minimum $1.4 million per hour required for reimbursement.

Disney received $43.8 million in tax credits, reducing the net spending on the series to $187 million. One of the largest single expenses was $30.4 million paid to staff, with the workforce peaking at 344 employees during 2023.

However, the filings also revealed disparities in the production’s workforce. In early April 2023, only 30% of the 695 employees were female, and women’s average hourly pay was 19.4% lower than men’s. This is notable given the series’ focus on diverse characters on screen.

While the series did not meet Disney’s expectations, the final budget shows just how expensive high-profile Star Wars productions have become. The Acolyte’s high costs highlight the challenge of balancing ambitious storytelling with financial realities in the streaming era.

It’s shocking to see the budget rise so much, especially for a show that struggled with viewership. It raises questions about how Disney manages production costs versus audience interest. What do you think, was the high budget worth it, or should Disney have scaled back? Share your thoughts in the comments.