Disney+ Collapse: Marvel and Star Wars Battling Massive Budget Cuts and Failures

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Tony Gilroy shares an interesting insight about his experience collaborating with Disney on the Andor Star Wars series. In a candid moment, he discloses that the production cost a staggering $650 million for two seasons. However, by the start of Season 2, Disney informed him that streaming services were no longer viable and there was no budget available.

Despite a substantial financial backing, Gilroy claims the productions remained untouched by external influences; however, an inside look reveals that Disney+ is in fact grappling with significant fiscal difficulties – a challenge that extends to its Marvel division as well.

What did Tony Gilroy say?

Gilroy pulled no punches when discussing the production of Andor. He revealed both the substantial amount Disney invested and the swift alterations that occurred off-screen (as reported by IndieWire).

He expressed it like this: “Disney is looking at a loss of around $650 million for these 24 episodes. Throughout the entire production, I didn’t take a single note from them. In our first season, we even said ‘Fuck the Empire,’ and they asked us to tone it down. In the second season, they claimed that streaming had died and they no longer had the financial resources they once did, so we fought for more money. However, despite our efforts, they never tidied up anything. This freedom carries with it its own set of responsibilities.

$4 billion streaming loss for Disney

Gilroy’s comments line up with recent reports about Disney slashing budgets across the board.

According to Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, it was revealed that the company suffered a financial loss of approximately $4 billion from their streaming service. Additionally, Iger stated that Disney plans to scale back its involvement in both Star Wars and Marvel productions.

What’s happened with Star Wars on Disney+?

The decisive blow to Star Wars on Disney+ was allegedly the show titled The Acolyte. With an estimated budget surpassing $200 million, it struggled to attract a significant viewer base, leading to its quick cancellation. This cancellation impacted another show, Skeleton Crew, which didn’t even make the Nielsen charts – a first for any Star Wars series on Disney+. Consequently, rumors emerged that Disney would limit their annual output of Star Wars shows to one.

Disney+ only has Ahsoka Season 2 currently in the works.

What’s happened with Marvel on Disney+?

Born Again” failed to make an impact on the Nielsen ratings, marking the first Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) show on Disney+ not to do so.

Coming up next on Disney+ from Marvel are “Ironheart” and “Wonder Man”, two shows that appear to be major flops. Despite rumors that “Daredevil: Born Again” was being reworked, it doesn’t seem like they made significant changes. The second season is shaping up to offer more of the same repetitive content.

Marvel’s Collapse May Hint at Ahsoka’s Future

According to Gilroy’s remarks, due to Iger’s decision to scale back, budgets have been significantly reduced, a move noticeable in the failed Marvel series like Echo, Agatha, and Daredevil.

Gilroy held significant influence due to his identity and the role he played in saving “Rogue One.” The repercussions of the cuts on “Ahsoka” Season 2 are still uncertain. If they follow a pattern similar to Marvel, “Ahsoka” might face difficulties. There’s been talk that Season 2 could be its last and that “Ahsoka” may be canceled.

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2025-06-02 04:31