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In summary, The Acolyte exemplifies the risks of inflated production budgets in modern franchise filmmaking. Despite ambitious visions and high-profile talent, the project’s costs have spiraled out of control. With a likely final bill approaching $300 million, it stands as a stark warning regarding the overspending and mismanagement that can plague big franchise projects.
As the series continues to air and accumulate data, Disney will need to evaluate whether The Acolyte can recoup its enormous investment or if it will join the list of costly miscalculations in the franchise’s storied history.