Andor, the Star Wars series that’s won hearts with its gritty take on the galaxy far, far away, is back in the spotlight after creator Tony Gilroy dished some juicy details at the ATX Television Festival (via IndieWire). The big reveal? Disney reportedly dropped a massive $650 million on the show’s 24 episodes across two seasons, though an insider hints it might be closer to $500 million. Either way, that’s a crazy amount of cash for a streaming series, and Gilroy’s stories about fighting for Season 2’s budget have everyone talking about what’s going on with streaming these days.
Andor, which follows Diego Luna’s Cassian Andor as he goes from street hustler to rebel hero, has been a standout for its raw, grounded vibe in the Star Wars universe. Gilroy, who helped write Rogue One, said Disney gave them a lot of freedom for Season 1, barely touching the script except to nudge them about toning down a bold “F**k the Empire” line. But when it came time for Season 2, things got messy. Disney hit them with a sobering reality check: “Streaming is dead. We don’t have the money we had before.” Gilroy and his team had to battle hard to get the funds to finish the show, though he’s quick to add that Disney never messed with the actual story, letting them keep their vision intact.
That $650 million price tag—or even the lower $500 million estimate—puts Andor up there with massive movies like Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which actually cost less. Breaking it down, that’s about $27 million an episode if you go with the higher number, which is wild for a streaming show. Fans are torn: some say the cinematic quality, killer writing, and stellar cast—Luna, Stellan Skarsgård, Adria Arjona, and more—justify the cost, while others wonder if Disney’s big spending on streaming is running out of steam. That “streaming is dead” comment from the execs feels like a sign of the times, with platforms tightening their wallets after years of throwing money around to keep up with Netflix.
Even with the behind-the-scenes drama, Andor has been a fan favorite, delivering a mature, gripping story that ties perfectly into Rogue One. Both seasons are now streaming on Disney+, wrapping up Cassian’s journey, though plenty of fans are already begging for more. Gilroy’s honesty about the budget fights and the eye-popping costs pulls back the curtain on just how tough it is to make top-tier TV in today’s streaming world, even when you’re backed by the House of Mouse.