Disney's Over Spending On ‘The Acolyte' Pushes Star Wars Costs To $2.9 Billion

Core Viewpoint - Disney's spending on Star Wars productions has reached $2.9 billion, largely driven by the budget of the new series "The Acolyte," which has faced significant backlash and low audience ratings despite initial viewership success [2][10]. Financial Overview - The total cost of Disney's Star Wars productions in the UK has increased to$2.9 billion, with "The Acolyte" alone accounting for $207.8 million in costs as of September 2023 [2][10][8]. - In 2022, Disney spent$141.7 million on UK Star Wars productions, bringing the cumulative total to $2.7 billion before the release of "The Acolyte" [10]. - The production budget for "The Acolyte" in 2023 was$192 million, contributing to the overall increase in spending [10]. Audience Reception - "The Acolyte" premiered on June 4, 2023, generating 4.8 million views on its launch day, making it the biggest series premiere on Disney+ for the year [7]. - The show received an audience score of 50% on Rotten Tomatoes shortly after its launch, which plummeted to 18% due to overwhelmingly negative reviews [5]. - The critics' score on Rotten Tomatoes was more favorable at 78%, indicating a disparity between critic and audience reception [6]. Production Insights - Disney's filming of "The Acolyte" in the UK allows the company to benefit from the Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit (AVEC), which provides a cash reimbursement of up to 25.5% of production costs [13]. - The production faced budget overruns after filming began, leading to concerns about its financial viability [8]. Employment and Economic Impact - Disney's investments in UK productions have supported over 32,000 jobs, with a total of $218.3 million spent on wages and social security payments for Star Wars productions [18]. - The UK government’s reimbursement to studios comes from taxpayer money, highlighting the financial implications of such productions on the national budget [16].