‘Star Wars: Starfighter’ Reportedly Outspends ‘The Force Awakens’ with $226.5 Million Cost

When Lucasfilm revealed that Ryan Gosling would lead an original ‘Star Wars’ adventure, excitement soared. Directed by Shawn Levy, the film promises a completely new narrative featuring fresh characters, set approximately five years after ‘The Rise of Skywalker’.

Production has progressed swiftly, with filming commencing in the U.K. in August 2025. The cast includes Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman, Daniel Ings, and Amy Adams, with the movie scheduled for theatrical release on May 28, 2027.

Recent financial filings have revealed the production costs. According to Forbes, Disney’s expenditure on ‘Star Wars: Starfighter‘ reached $226.5 million (£164.9 million) by the end of filming at Pinewood Studios, surpassing the budget at the same stage for ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’.

It’s crucial to note that the $226.5 million figure does not represent the film’s final budget. This amount reflects spending on production up to a specific point, excluding post-production, visual effects, and marketing expenses, which will be added later for a complete financial overview.

The filings also provide insights into the spending breakdown. The largest single expense was $17.6 million (£12.8 million) for staffing, with an average monthly workforce of 239, highlighting the scale of the production.

Thanks to the U.K. government’s Audio-Visual Expenditure Credit, ‘Starfighter’ received a refund of $51.5 million (£37.5 million), lowering Disney’s net spending to around $175 million. This significant offset still indicates a higher expenditure at this stage compared to both ‘The Force Awakens’ and ‘The Last Jedi’.

This context underscores why British filings are invaluable for understanding Hollywood budgets. Productions in the U.K. are required to file annual accounts, making details that studios typically keep confidential publicly accessible.

For context, ‘The Rise of Skywalker’ had a budget of $593.7 million before tax credits and approximately $490 million afterward, making it one of the most expensive films ever, and it had already spent more than ‘Starfighter’ at the same production stage.

Thus, ‘Starfighter’ is categorized as expensive but remains below the highest budget levels in the franchise. This serves as a reminder that the saga’s major blockbusters have always come with hefty price tags, and Disney is positioning this new chapter as a significant theatrical event.

The film aims to be a fresh starting point. Levy has indicated that it is a completely new adventure, not a prequel or sequel, allowing newcomers an easier entry point, with Gosling also taking on the role of executive producer. Kathleen Kennedy is producing alongside Levy, based on a script by Jonathan Tropper.

This strategy aligns with the studio’s needs. Following years of mixed outcomes for the franchise at the box office, an original story featuring a major star and new characters could reset expectations without leaning on established storylines.

With filming complete, attention now turns to post-production and marketing. Fans have seen little beyond a black-and-white behind-the-scenes image of Gosling and Gray, along with the film’s logo, making the first official trailer a highly anticipated moment.

The film’s release date at the end of May 2027 aligns with the traditional timing for ‘Star Wars’ blockbusters. How this spending translates into box office success will be a crucial factor in determining the franchise’s future in theaters.

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