Each of Star Wars’ live-action TV shows has been eye-wateringly expensive, but Andor takes the cake.

Andor season 2 is now on a whole other level – and it was even more expensive than season 1.

Andor Season 2 Was The Most Expensive Single Season Of Star Wars To Date

Andor season 2 is confirmed to be the most expensive single season of a Star Wars show to date. As reported by Forbes, tax returns submitted in the UK confirm that Disney spent a record $290.9 million on season 2. However, this number only confirms the total spent until November 22, 2023. That date is significant because filming didn’t wrap on Andor season 2 until February 2024. As such, the total cost for Andor season 2 is likely well over $300 million, presumably nearer to $400 million.

Forbes estimates that Andor cost $645 million to produce in its entirety. By contrast, three seasons of The Mandalorian are estimated to have cost $360 million. The difference is striking. So why does Andor cost so much more, and will the result be worth it for Andor season 2, as it was for season 1?

Why Has Andor Cost So Much To Make?

Andor is unlike any other Star Wars live-action TV production. Whereas most, like The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, and Obi-Wan Kenobi, have filmed largely on The Volume, which is essentially a massive LED-screen stage that allows for computer-generated backgrounds to be manipulated in real-time for lighting and movement, Andor creator Tony Gilroy instead chose to implement practical sets and location shooting for most of the series.

For instance, the city of Ferrix in Andor season 1 was fully constructed as a miniature city, a set so large that star Adria Arjona ed getting lost the first time she toured the set. I expect we’ll see similar craftsmanship in season 2. The season 1 Aldhani arc was filmed in the Scottish Highlands, and location shoots in areas with unpredictable weather can make shooting much more difficult, time-consuming, and thus, costly.

We also need to consider the show’s length. While The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, The Book of Boba Fett, The Acolyte, and Skeleton Crew all consist of eight episodes or fewer per season, Andor includes 12 episodes in a single season, bringing the total up to 24, on par with three seasons of The Mandalorian. Yes, The Mandalorian is still significantly lower in cost than Andor, but I’d argue that The Mandalorian didn’t change the game for Lucasfilm – and Disney, by extension – the same way Andor did.

Andor Is Disney Star Wars' Biggest Gamble, But It's Paid Off

The Mandalorian essentially revitalized Star Wars after the divisive reaction to the sequel trilogy, and it was the perfect show to launch Disney+ as a platform. It felt fresh and exciting, but after three seasons, the series has fallen into an all-too-familiar trap, becoming a nexus point for the franchise rather than a property that stands entirely on its own.

Now the sub-franchise is also the launch pad for Star Wars’ return to the big screen, and while The Mandalorian and Grogu remains an exciting prospect, I can’t help but feel that it’s devolved into something it shouldn’t have been – a crutch for Lucasfilm. The Mandalorian now relies on characters and storylines that many are innately familiar with. There’s no risk, no gamble, and as a result, the reward feels less impressive.

Of course, Andor isn’t an entirely stand-alone production. It is a prequel to Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, a billion-dollar-grossing Star Wars anthology movie, which, in itself, was innately connected to the Skywalker saga and the first Star Wars movie, later retitled A New Hope. I’d argue that this has forced Andor to become something more, something else, however. Andor is so much more than the story of how a doomed-to-die Rebel fighter became an officer in the Rebellion. It explores and deepens our understanding of Star Wars’ politics and its authentic narrative purpose.

It's been said before, but Andor isn’t just an excellent Star Wars show – it’s an excellent show, period.

It's been said before, but Andor isn’t just an excellent Star Wars show – it’s an excellent show, period. It’s raised the bar. The budget is astronomical, yes, and I’m certainly not advocating for every Star Wars production to have such an excessive budget from now on. In fact, I think Lucasfilm and Disney need to work hard to bring those budgets down if they want to survive.

But Andor’s storytelling, character work, and pure, artistic attention to detail have created a show that anyone, even those previously ambivalent to Star Wars, can enjoy. In this day and age, when audiences are overwhelmed with choices and familiarity feels like safety, there is nothing more important or rewarding for a brand. The critical acclaim that Andor has so rightfully been given is a gift, and that ballooned budget played an important part in it – now Lucasfilm and Disney need to learn how to create similar experiences on a smaller scale.

Andor season 2 premieres with three episodes on April 22, exclusively on Disney+.