Part 3/8:
The Myth of the $130 Million Budget
Central to the controversy is an article from Vanity Fair, which claimed that The Marvels had a budget of $130 million, making it the "highest-budgeted film ever helmed by a Black woman" — a notable milestone. However, a closer examination reveals that this figure is grossly misleading.
The $130 million figure was based on the amount Disney reportedly spent on the film within the first two months of filming in the UK. The key word here is "spent," which refers solely to initial production costs. It does not account for the extensive re-shoots, post-production, marketing expenses, or the additional costs incurred over the film's ongoing production.