Disney+’s Star Wars: The Acolyte, a series set in the High Republic period, actually cost significantly more to produce than originally estimated.
Initial budget predictions were around $180 million, but final costs totaled $230.8 million – approximately £190.8 million based on current exchange rates. This means the show’s costs increased by 10.5% right before it was released last year.
Created by Leslye Headland, the show debuted on June 4th, 2024, with the first two episodes available at once. New episodes then released each week, with a total of six remaining. Headland’s goal was to tell a Star Wars story focusing on the villains’ point of view.
The series boasts a talented ensemble cast, including Amandla Stenberg, Lee Jung-jae, Charlie Barnett, Dafne Keen, Rebecca Henderson, Jodie Turner-Smith, and Carrie-Anne Moss. Production primarily occurred at Shinfield Studios in Berkshire between October 2022 and June 2023, with some extra footage captured in Wales and Portugal.
Okay, so the critics mostly seemed to like it, but honestly, it really split the fanbase. Plus, it didn’t bring in as many viewers as other Star Wars series, which was a bit of a bummer.
The show faced negative reviews online as part of a coordinated campaign. In August 2024, Disney canceled it because not enough people were watching and it was expensive to make. Even so, the show was nominated for several awards, including a Primetime Emmy.
Documents show the production cost around $46.2 million for each hour of content, significantly exceeding the $1.4 million per hour minimum for refunds. Disney received $43.8 million in tax credits, bringing their total spending down to $187 million. The largest single expense was employee salaries, totaling $30.4 million, with an average of 344 people working on the project each month at its busiest.
The report also revealed some problems with the company’s workforce. As of April 2023, only 30% of its 695 employees were women, and women earned 19.4% less per hour than men. This is particularly noticeable considering the show emphasizes diversity in its programming.
The show’s large production costs combined with relatively few viewers highlight the difficulties of making big-budget Star Wars series for streaming platforms. Despite having skilled filmmakers and a well-known cast, a show’s success ultimately depends on both its financial performance and how fans react.
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2025-09-26 10:14