Disney Spent a Fortune on The Rise of Skywalker
The Rise of Skywalker, the ninth installment of the Star Wars series, reached record production costs due to director changes and script revisions. According to a new Forbes report, Disney spent a total of $593.7 million to complete the film. This figure makes it the third-most expensive production in history.
The Rise of Skywalker Draws Attention with Its Record-High Budget
After J.J. Abrams replaced Colin Trevorrow, the film underwent a near-complete rewrite. This extended the filming period and increased production costs. Disney was forced to disclose these figures to take advantage of tax breaks in the UK. This has brought the true cost of The Rise of Skywalker to light.
With a massive budget of $593 million, the film finished third behind The Force Awakens and Jurassic World: Dominion. However, this massive investment didn’t generate as much return at the box office as expected. The low gross of the franchise’s spin-off film, Solo: A Star Wars Story, also led Disney to reconsider its filmmaking plans.
This situation led Disney to shift its focus to Disney+ series. While the brand maintains its presence with series like The Mandalorian, Andor, and Ahsoka, the new era in cinema is being approached cautiously. However, the giant company is preparing to return to the big screen with The Mandalorian & Grogu, due out in 2026, and Star Wars: Starfighter, due out in 2027.
Disney is also working on Star Wars: New Jedi Order, which will star Daisy Ridley as Rey Skywalker. Meanwhile, James Mangold’s Dawn of the Jedi project is rumored to be facing uncertainty. It looks like Disney will be much more careful with its budget this time around — as the bill for The Rise of Skywalker is still being discussed in Hollywood.
Read More: Is PSN Down? Players Can’t Log In