The author’s previous article, critiquing Disney’s spending on the “Star Wars” series “Andor,” was met with considerable misunderstanding. Many readers interpreted the critique as an attack on the show itself, assuming the author believed Disney shouldn’t have made “Andor” or that they begrudged the company’s spending. This is a mischaracterization of the argument. The author clarifies that they appreciate “Andor” and have no personal stake in Disney’s financial decisions. The core issue lies not with the existence of these shows, but with the disproportionately high production budgets relative to their viewership, a trend that could ultimately lead to the premature cancellation of quality shows or the stifling of new projects.
The central concern revolves around the sustainability of this spending model. “Andor,” while critically acclaimed, initially had the lowest viewership of any Disney+ “Star Wars” series, likely due to its lack of familiar characters. Despite its two-season guarantee secured upfront, the author argues that its substantial budget, exceeding $200 million, would have likely led to cancellation had the second season not been pre-approved. This exemplifies the precarious position of high-budget shows that don’t immediately capture a massive audience. Even exceptional quality can’t always guarantee survival in the face of underwhelming viewership numbers when production costs are exorbitant.
This pattern extends beyond “Andor.” “The Acolyte,” another expensive “Star Wars” series with a budget exceeding $200 million, also suffered from low viewership, despite being a crucial project for Disney’s expansion into the High Republic era. While the show had its merits, the author contends that its high production costs were unnecessary, especially given its relatively simple settings and focus on dialogue-driven scenes. The enormous budget, coupled with the low viewership, effectively sealed the show’s fate, leaving its narrative unresolved on a series of cliffhangers. This demonstrates how excessive spending can hinder the development of promising storylines and ultimately deprive viewers of potentially compelling content.
The most recent example of this troubling trend is “Skeleton Crew,” arguably one of the best “Star Wars” series on Disney+. Although its $136 million budget was lower than its predecessors, it still represents a significant investment, particularly given its projected low viewership. While initially envisioned as a more grounded and potentially cheaper production, the final budget remains substantial, potentially jeopardizing a second season despite the show’s quality. This recurring pattern of high budgets coupled with lower-than-expected viewership underscores the author’s concern about Disney’s financial management of the “Star Wars” franchise.
The author’s argument is not about criticizing the quality of these shows, but rather highlighting a systemic problem within Disney’s approach to “Star Wars” content creation. The concern is that by consistently overspending on projects that fail to attract a proportionally large audience, Disney is creating an environment where even high-quality shows are at risk. This financial mismanagement, the author argues, could lead to the cancellation of deserving shows and prevent the development of new, potentially innovative projects. The focus is not on Disney’s bottom line, but rather on the potential loss of valuable “Star Wars” content due to unsustainable spending practices.
The underlying message is not one of animosity towards Disney or its “Star Wars” productions, but a cautionary observation about the potential long-term consequences of this financial strategy. While fans have benefited from the high production values of shows like “Andor,” the author argues that this approach is not sustainable. By continuing to invest heavily in projects that don’t generate commensurate returns in viewership, Disney risks losing out on future seasons of promising shows and potentially stifling the development of entirely new concepts. The author’s concern lies with the potential for missed opportunities within the “Star Wars” universe, a consequence of unsustainable budgetary practices that prioritize high production costs over audience engagement and long-term franchise development.
