Disney+ Update: Marvel and Star Wars News from Tony Gilroy

Tony Gilroy recently shared some surprising information about his experience working on the Star Wars series Andor with Disney. According to Gilroy, the series had a massive budget of $650 million for two seasons. However, by Season 2, Disney claimed that “Streaming is dead” and that they did not have enough money to continue funding the show.

In discussing the making of Andor, Gilroy mentioned that Disney never interfered with the production despite the high budget. He highlighted the freedom he had in creating the show, although the sudden change in financial support from Disney was a stark reality check for the production team.

These revelations from Gilroy align with recent reports of Disney making significant budget cuts across their entertainment divisions. Disney CEO Bob Iger confirmed that the streaming platform had suffered a $4 billion loss. As a result, Disney announced cutbacks in various areas, including television and film marketing, television publicity, casting, and development.

The impact of these cuts has been felt across other popular Disney+ shows, including those from the Marvel universe. Shows like The Acolyte, which reportedly cost over $200 million but failed to attract a substantial audience, have faced cancellation. This led to a cascading effect on other shows like Skeleton Crew, which did not perform well either.

Similarly, Marvel’s post-Endgame lineup, curated by Kevin Feige, has fallen short of expectations, with shows like The Marvels, She-Hulk, and Secret Invasion failing to engage viewers. Even the highly anticipated Daredevil: Born Again was not able to make a mark on Disney+. This trend has caused concern among fans and industry insiders about Marvel’s future on the streaming platform.

Considering Tony Gilroy’s comments about production budgets being slashed due to Disney’s financial constraints, there are speculations about the fate of other upcoming shows like Ahsoka Season 2. The Marvel shows that faced cancellations, including Echo, Agatha, and Daredevil, highlight the challenges faced by Disney in maintaining successful streaming content.

Despite Gilroy’s insights into the behind-the-scenes challenges faced by Andor and the broader implications for Star Wars and Marvel shows on Disney+, it remains to be seen how these developments will impact future projects and the overall quality of content on the platform. It has been rumored that Ahsoka Season 2 might be the last season, hinting at the potential uncertainties looming over the beloved series.