Forbes Reveals Disney’s Deleted Willow Series Budget Hit $17 Million Per Episode

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A recent report from Forbes revealed that Disney’s cancelled series Willow (2022) cost $17 million per episode to produce. According to the report, which cites financial documents from Disney’s Barking Lion Production studio, the show’s total cost was $136.3 million – a more modest budget compared to series from Marvel and Star Wars.

The show was cancelled by Disney after just one season in 2023, as part of a larger cut of series on Disney+. Although a second season had already begun production, it was ultimately scrapped, according to studio records.

The cancellations weren’t handled discreetly, with Tony Gilroy suggesting Disney had become doubtful about its streaming strategy. At the same time, actors from the cancelled show Willow have been openly sharing their honest reactions to the company’s decisions.

The Mouse Deprives Actors of Their Cheddar

This September, Ruby Cruz, who played Kit in the series, spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about Disney’s decision to end the show after a limited run. She shared her reaction to the cancellation during the interview.

The show Willow felt separate from everything else, and it connected with the audience it was meant for, according to the actress. However, she also admitted feeling torn about its cancellation, saying it’s upsetting that people can no longer watch it and she understands why fans are seeking explanations.

According to the article, Cruz was initially bothered by the situation, but now appreciates the positive effect the character has had on the public.

However, actor Warwick Davis strongly criticized Disney+’s choices, claiming the company prioritizes profits over its viewers. He voiced his concerns on X, suggesting creative decisions are being driven by shareholder value rather than subscriber satisfaction.

Wow, this old photo just popped up on my memories – it’s a behind-the-scenes shot from the ‘Willow’ series! Honestly, it really frustrates me that Disney+ seems to prioritize what makes investors happy over what its viewers actually want. It’s a shame, that’s all I’m saying.

I only ever saw each episode once!😡

— Warwick Davis (@WarwickADavis) December 11, 2024

It’s easy to see why he feels that way, considering Disney removed all episodes of Willow from its streaming service and never released them on DVD or Blu-ray.

Disney’s Deletion of Willow appears to be Motivated by Money

According to Forbes, Disney created a lot more shows than usual because they gained many new viewers during the 2020 lockdowns. Other streaming services reportedly did the same thing to stay competitive.

When these shows finally premiered, COVID-19 restrictions were already easing up. Some believe this caused fewer people to watch and fewer subscriptions to the streaming services.

Disney’s streaming service has lost as much as $10 billion because revenue has fallen and making shows is expensive. Programs like Willow haven’t brought in enough money to offset these costs.

The author notes that countries in the UK, especially Wales, give tax breaks to film companies that decide to film there.

As a result of these benefits, Willow’s production costs fell from over $170 million to $136.3 million, as reported earlier. However, these savings weren’t large enough to warrant continuing the show.

Disney can reduce its taxes by taking shows off its streaming service and reporting them as losses. Other streaming companies are doing the same thing, and some are even licensing their shows to free, ad-supported platforms instead of completely removing them.

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2025-11-02 20:57