Star Wars: Starfighter spent $226.5 million by the end of filming according to report

New U.K. filings show Disney spent $226.5 million on Star Wars: Starfighter by the end of filming, outpacing The Force Awakens at the same stage. It opens May 28, 2027.

Ryan Gosling’s Star Wars movie isn’t coming cheap.

Disney spent $226.5 million making Star Wars: Starfighter by the time filming wrapped at Pinewood Studios in England, according to Comic Basics, citing filings reported by Forbes.

That’s more than The Force Awakens had spent at the same point in production.

How much did Star Wars: Starfighter cost?

At least $226.5 million so far, or about 164.9 million pounds. That’s the gross amount spent through the end of filming, before tax breaks, Comic Basics reported.

It’s not the movie’s final budget. The total doesn’t include post-production, visual effects work after filming or marketing.

How much did Starfighter cost after tax breaks?

About $175 million. A U.K. tax credit for film productions refunded about $51.5 million to Disney, Comic Basics reported.

The biggest single cost listed was about $17.6 million for staff, with an average of 239 people working on the movie each month.

Is Starfighter the most expensive Star Wars movie?

Not yet. Starfighter spent more by the end of filming than The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi did at the same stage, according to Comic Basics.

But The Rise of Skywalker had spent more than Starfighter at that point. Its final cost reached about $593.7 million before tax credits, or about $490 million after.

How much did other Star Wars movies cost?

The finished movies cost much more than Starfighter’s spending so far. These are the reported totals, according to Wikipedia:

• The Force Awakens: $535.5 million

• The Rise of Skywalker: $490.2 million

• The Last Jedi: $343.2 million

• Solo: A Star Wars Story: $299.8 million

• Rogue One: $271 million

• The Mandalorian and Grogu: $165 million

Starfighter’s final cost will likely climb as post-production and visual effects work continue.

Why do U.K. filings show Star Wars budgets?

Companies making movies in the U.K. have to file yearly financial accounts. Star Wars movies often film at Pinewood Studios near London, so those filings give fans a rare look at how much Disney spends.

Pinewood, just west of London, has been a home base for Star Wars since The Force Awakens. It’s also famous as the longtime home of the James Bond movies.

When does Star Wars: Starfighter come out?

Friday, May 28, 2027. That’s the weekend of the 50th anniversary of the original 1977 Star Wars, which opened on May 25, 1977.

Filming began in the U.K. in August 2025.

Who is in Star Wars: Starfighter?

Ryan Gosling stars and is also an executive producer. The cast includes Flynn Gray, Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Amy Adams, Simon Bird, Jamael Westman and Daniel Ings, according to Comic Basics.

Shawn Levy directs and produces with Kathleen Kennedy. Jonathan Tropper wrote the screenplay.

What is Star Wars: Starfighter about?

Lucasfilm hasn’t shared many plot details. The movie is set about five years after The Rise of Skywalker, in a part of the Star Wars timeline fans haven’t seen on screen yet, Comic Basics reported.

It’s an all-new story, not a direct sequel or prequel.

What else is coming for Star Wars’ 50th anniversary?

The original Star Wars returns to theaters Feb. 19, 2027, and Star Wars Celebration runs April 1-4 in Los Angeles. A Star Wars animated version of Super Bowl LXI also streams on Disney+ on Feb. 14, 2027.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• Screen Rant (Oct. 2026), the Starfighter budget report

• Comic Basics, Robert Milakovic (Oct. 22, 2026), the spending figures, tax credit, comparisons, cast and release date

• Forbes, Caroline Reid (Oct. 22, 2026), the original report on the U.K. filings

• Wikipedia, past Star Wars movie budgets

• StarWars.com (Oct. 20, 2026), the 50th anniversary plans

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