Lucasfilm and Disney's upcoming film Star Wars: Starfighter has already achieved a significant milestone, setting a new franchise record for its pre-release production costs. By the time filming concluded, the movie had amassed a budget of $226.5 million, according to Forbes. This figure surpasses the reported production expenditure of 2015's Star Wars: The Force Awakens during its filming period.
While Star Wars productions are often costly, Starfighter's budget indicates a substantial investment. Even television series within the franchise typically demand significant resources. The film, directed by Shawn Levy and starring Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon, is set five years after The Rise of Skywalker and also features Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, and Amy Adams.
This high production cost raises questions about Starfighter's potential to become one of the most expensive films ever made, particularly considering the extensive visual effects (VFX) expected. Post-production, where VFX for alien species, space battles, and planetary landscapes are typically developed by Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), could further increase the overall expenditure. This investment may be a strategic move by Lucasfilm and Disney to rebound from the box office disappointment of The Mandalorian and Grogu, which had the lowest opening weekend and total gross of any Disney Star Wars film.
It is worth noting that productions filmed at Pinewood Studios in the UK, including Starfighter and The Force Awakens, can benefit from the UK government’s Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit. This scheme offers a cash reimbursement of up to 25.5% of eligible spending within the country, potentially providing producers with greater financial flexibility. The ultimate impact of this investment on Starfighter's final quality remains to be seen, but the studio appears committed to a high-budget, high-stakes production.
