In a stunning revelation at the ATX Television Festival, “Andor” creator Tony Gilroy disclosed that Disney, the entertainment giant behind the Star Wars franchise, admitted to severe financial constraints during the production of the critically acclaimed series’ second season. According to Gilroy, Disney informed him that “streaming is dead” and that the company no longer has the financial resources it once did, marking a significant shift in the industry’s landscape. The 24-episode “Star Wars” prequel to “Rogue One,” which wrapped its run in April 2025, reportedly cost a staggering $650 million to produce, a figure Gilroy shared during a Q&A session reported by IndieWire.
“Andor,” starring Diego Luna as Cassian Andor, a thief-turned-rebel-spy, has been lauded for its gritty storytelling, complex characters, and departure from traditional Star Wars fare. Released in two seasons (2022 and 2025), the series earned widespread praise for its grounded take on the galaxy far, far away, focusing on the early days of the Rebellion. Gilroy, who co-wrote “Rogue One” in 2016, revealed that Disney granted him remarkable creative freedom throughout the production. “I never took a note,” he said, noting that the studio’s only significant pushback in Season 1 was a request to tone down the phrase “Fuck the Empire.” However, Season 2 brought new challenges as Disney’s financial outlook shifted.
“They said, ‘Streaming is dead, we don’t have the money we had before,’” Gilroy recounted, describing tense negotiations over the budget for the second season. Despite these constraints, he emphasized that Disney never interfered editorially, allowing the team to maintain their vision. “We fought hard about money, but they never cleaned anything up,” he added, suggesting that while funding was a battle, creative control remained intact. This freedom, Gilroy noted, came with significant responsibilities to deliver a high-quality product worthy of the Star Wars legacy.
The $650 million budget for “Andor” underscores the immense investment Disney poured into its streaming platform, Disney+, during the peak of the streaming wars. However, Gilroy’s comments reflect a broader industry trend, as companies like Disney reassess the sustainability of massive streaming budgets amid declining subscriber growth and market saturation. Analysts have noted that Disney+ has struggled to maintain profitability, with rising production costs and a crowded streaming market prompting a strategic pivot. Disney’s acknowledgment that “streaming is dead” signals a potential retreat from the all-in approach to streaming content, raising questions about the future of high-budget series like “Andor.”
Fans and industry insiders are now speculating about what this means for Star Wars and Disney’s broader slate. “Andor” concluded to critical acclaim, but its high cost and Disney’s financial concerns could deter similar projects. Gilroy’s candid remarks highlight the tension between creative ambition and fiscal reality, painting a sobering picture of an industry at a crossroads.
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