Disney's Star Wars series 'The Acolyte' incurs hefty pre-production costs

Disney has revealed that it spent a substantial $49.2 million on the pre-production of its upcoming Star Wars streaming series, The Acolyte. 

The show is set before the events of the main Star Wars movies, and is slated to land on the Disney+ platform next year. The pre-production budget for The Acolyte surpassed even the big-screen Star Wars blockbuster Rogue One by $5.5 million, reports Forbes.

While The Acolyte's pre-production costs were notably higher, it's important to consider that last year's Star Wars streaming series, Andor, spent 38% more on pre-production due to extensive COVID-19 protocols required during the height of the pandemic. 

The main instalments in the Star Wars saga also had pre-production budgets that were comparable to The Acolyte, with The Last Jedi having only 17% more in pre-production expenses.

Despite the high budget, little is known about The Acolyte, except that it takes place around 100 years before the events of Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. The cast includes Lee Jung-jae from Squid Game, Manny Jacinto from The Good Place, Dafne Keen from Logan, and recently revealed, Keanu Reeves in a cameo appearance.

The Acolyte's production is based in the United Kingdom, benefiting from the Television Tax Relief scheme that allows studios to claim a cash reimbursement of up to 25% of the money spent in the country. This scheme has contributed to the high pre-production costs incurred by The Acolyte.

Disney's recent shift towards focusing on theatrical releases for its Marvel and Star Wars franchises indicates their cost-containment initiative and desire to reduce expenses.