What if Disney had run out of megalomania with Star Wars? When it took over Lucasfilm in 2012, it didn't spare any expense. The deal cost $4.05 billion, a hefty sum for the creator of the universe and a way for Mickey to ensure he had control over an entertainment empire, from movies to toys to video games. Three years later, the company relaunched the machine with Star Wars: The Force Awakens under the direction of J.J. Abrams. $245 million was allocated to the realization of this first film in a new trilogy. That's already more than double the money spent on Revenge of the Sith, and the start of the Star Wars era at Disney. In 2017, Rian Johnson set a franchise record with $317 million for The Last Jedi. The company had faith in its golden goose, and it never failed. However, in 2018, Star Wars experienced its first setback. Solo: A Star Wars Story grossed only $393.2 million at the global box office on a budget of $275 million. The film failed to achieve profitability and put a brake on Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy's spin-off plans. The Obi-Wan Kenobi film then became a series for Disney+, just like the Boba Fett film. After the release of The Rise of Skywalker (275 million) in 2019, Star Wars is taking the time to fade into the background in cinemas and is multiplying projects on Disney+.
Caution….
A new era of Star Wars in cinemas is nevertheless about to be launched, with emblematic figures of the license on Disney+ headlining. In 2026, it is with The Mandalorian & Grogu, heroes of the first original Star Wars series, that hostilities will be launched. The characters are appreciated, director Jon Favreau has a nice track record at the global box office and internationally renowned actors and actresses are expected to follow one another in front of the camera. According to information spotted by Collider, concerning the tax credit from which the firm was able to benefit, The Mandalorian & Grogu Grogu reportedly cost a modest $166.4 million. That's nearly half the cost of most films developed since 2015 (average $262.4 million) and much closer to the franchise's standards in the 2000s. While The Rise of Skywalker was a financial success, Star Wars faced a rather difficult critical reception. Audiences didn't embrace J.J. Abrams' proposal, putting the brand in a precarious situation. Thus, there's no guarantee that viewers disappointed by the last batch will be enthusiastic about returning to George Lucas's opening credits and galaxy far, far away. Also, this budget of $166.4 million could be a way for Disney to dip its toes in before jumping in the deep end and the arrival of its newer, more ambitious projects.
Unless this reduced budget is due to Jon Favreau, a director who is also used to juggling smaller sums. For reference, the first season of The Mandalorian cost $15 million per episode, for a total cost of $120 million. The use of Stagecraft, a visual effects technology that consists of a huge LED device surrounding the actors and set elements. They can be adjusted as desired and save considerable time compared to traditional green screens. This technology was developed specifically for the series in 2019. Previous films were unable to take advantage of it, and therefore had to rely on expensive visual effects to make their magic happen. So, check back on May 20, 2026 to see if every ticket spent will be put to good use.
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