The Disney+ series 'Andor' has become the most expensive project in the Star Wars franchise, with a total cost of $705.5 million, including an additional $60.5 million spent ahead of its second season. This surpasses the budgets of all previous Star Wars films, such as 'The Force Awakens' at $447 million and 'The Rise of Skywalker' at nearly $594 million. The high costs are attributed to elaborate physical sets, extensive location shoots in the UK, large crew sizes, and prolonged post-production involving visual effects and sound design. The series, which premiered in 2022 and concluded in May, has been critically acclaimed, with Rotten Tomatoes scores of 96% and 97% for seasons 1 and 2 respectively. Disney's investment reflects a shift toward high-budget streaming content, leveraging UK government rebates worth approximately $129 million to offset expenses. Despite the financial risks, Disney hopes that the series' success will boost subscriber retention and franchise merchandise, with some analysts warning that such lavish spending could threaten future projects. The series' notable budget highlights the evolving landscape of entertainment, where streaming giants are investing movie-level sums into television productions to attract and retain audiences.