If you’ve been wondering just how much Disney poured into Andor, creator Tony Gilroy has the answer, and it’s a jaw-dropper. At a recent Q&A during the ATX Television Festival, Gilroy casually mentioned that the total cost for the 24-episode Star Wars series hit $650 million. Yep, you read that right. That’s more than triple what Rogue One cost, and Gilroy helped write that too.
The show, which ran in two seasons (2022 and 2025), officially wrapped up last month. It served as a gritty, grounded prequel to Rogue One and followed Cassian Andor (played by Diego Luna) from street-level survivalist to full-on rebel spy. Critics loved it, and fans called it some of the best Star Wars storytelling in years.
But behind the scenes? Things weren’t so smooth.
Tony Gilroy Fought Hard for Season 2’s Budget
During the talk, Tony Gilroy didn’t hold back. “I mean, for Disney this is $650 million,” he said, almost like he still couldn’t believe it himself. The first season had breathing room financially and creatively, and Disney let the team run with their vision. There were almost no executive notes. At one point, they even had the characters say, “F** the Empire,”* and while Disney raised an eyebrow, they didn’t pull the plug.
But things shifted dramatically in Season 2.
Streaming is dead, Gilroy recalled being told. We don’t have the money we had before.
Suddenly, the freedom they enjoyed in the beginning came at a cost. Gilroy and his team had to push back, negotiating just to maintain the quality and scope of the final season. He made it clear they fought tooth and nail to protect the story.
And that story had already been scaled down. Originally, Andor was meant to run five seasons. But when Disney started tightening budgets, the team compacted the entire arc into two seasons, still managing to span four years of Cassian’s life leading up to Rogue One.
Tony Gilroy’s Star Wars Legacy Is a Costly One
Say what you want about Disney’s spending habits, but Andor certainly didn’t look cheap. The sets, the performances, the cinematic vibe, it all screamed high-end production. But with the changing economics of streaming, it’s unclear if we’ll ever see something like this again in the Star Wars universe.
Gilroy’s approach has always stood out. If you’ve seen Michael Clayton or The Bourne Legacy, you know he thrives in stories where tension, complexity, and realism drive the action. Andor followed that same playbook, eschewing lightsabers and space wizards for political intrigue, gray morality, and real human stakes.
So while Tony Gilroy’s IMDb will now carry the weight of one of the most ambitious (and expensive) Star Wars projects ever, it also raises an uncomfortable question: Will Disney, or anyone, spend that kind of money on a streaming show again?
Final Season, Final Word
For fans hoping for a Season 3, Gilroy was clear: this is it. The story ends here. The production team intentionally landed the final episode right where Rogue One picks up, closing Cassian’s arc in a neat (if hard-earned) bow.
It’s bittersweet. On one hand, Andor went out strong, with creative integrity mostly intact. On the other hand, it marks the end of an era where streaming platforms were willing to gamble big on prestige storytelling.
So yeah, Tony Gilroy got to make the show he wanted. But he had to fight like hell to finish it.
