With a resurgence in the Clone Wars, the biggest question is: How much will it cost to produce and how much profit can Disney make?

Supervising Director, Dave Filoni, hints on how important a strong economic backing is needed for production in the Ahsoka Untold Tales Panels at Star Wars Celebration 2016

You really have to choose in production ‘when am I going to get a chance to do that’. The fact is that telling a story about Ahsoka as a very young girl, while I’m excited about that and I know other people that would, would that appeal to a mass audience? Is that going to be worth what I have to economically put into the production. So you’re always asking yourself is the money in the money out.

People want to know if they invest so much money to produce the show that they’re going to see that back. That’s the reality of filmmaking. As a storyteller I want to tell as many stories as I can, so I try to get then all down. But the reality is you have to look at it from an economic viewpoint.

Despite these concerns, The Clone Wars had a strong financial backing and had an immense reputation for the quality of the show.

Hollywood Reporter’s article “ Star Wars Had Record Toy Sales In A Non Movie Year In 2010” states:

Lucasfilm's Star Wars franchise had its highest toy revenue ever for a non-movie year in 2010 and the best toy revenue since Star Wars: Episode III Revenge of the Sith.

With sales of more than $510 million last year, Star Wars also maintained its position as the bestselling boys toy license in the U.S. for the third consecutive year, according to Lucasfilm and research firm NPD Group.

This record high in toy sales, before the Disney takeover, correlates to the success of the Clone Wars.

The popularity of animated TV series Clone Wars on Cartoon Network has helped keep the saga in media play, and toy lines from Hasbro and Lego have helped keep long-time and new fans spending.

Just goes to show that the demand for Star Wars content doesn’t die down when they can depend on the other media sources such as an animated series like The Clone Wars. It’s understandable that marketing and money be put into the movies that would likely generate a large profit margin, but as the stats suggest from the toy sale for The Clone Wars, the series is also a worthy market to look into.

Star Wars doesn’t have to start or end with the movies. Fans have learned this and enjoyed expansions from novels to comics while also enjoying the movies. This is the same attitude that should be drawn about when approaching a proper monetary backing for animated series with as much potential as SW Rebels and The Clone Wars.

Disney is not to underestimated in the amount of revenue they are able to collect in total. If something is not being funded, it is of their volition and not a lack of funds or resources.

For example, their past years show their progress in revenue:

2014: $48,813,000,000
2015: $52,000,000,000

In Forbe’s article “For Disney Biggest Pay Off Won’t Be At The Box Office”, states:

Analysts predict Star Wars merch will generate some $3 billion in sales in 2015, and $5 billion over the next 12 months

Sept. 4, dubbed Force Friday, was when it launched the first batch of Force Awakens merchandise.

That day alone Star Wars merchandise sales are estimated to have neared $1 billion," The Atlantic reported in late November.

Overall, Star Wars merchandise sales could reach a potential $5 billion in the first year after the release of The Force Awakens, which could result in $500 million in licensing and retail revenue for Disney

The cost for buying Lucasfilms was $4 billion, but they have made back that money a long time ago, and in very little time.

And with their experience and reach in marketing, they have been able to benefit at a lucrative rate, the only thing that holds them back are themselves when it comes to certain decisions.

They are the ones who decide where that money goes and what projects stay or go.

On average, each episode amounts to 1 million for budget
- However, the average budget for an episode of a animated show can range from 18,000 to 1 million depending on the quality of animation
The Clone Wars had a remaining 2.5 seasons (at the very least)
- There were 13 arcs consisting of 4 episodes: 52 episodes
20 of those unfinished episodes have been adapted to other medias, such as novels, comics or story reels
If not considering those already adapted, that is a total of 32 episodes: 8 arcs

Total Tally?

52 million to complete the series in full animation as intended
Or, 32 million to complete the remaining episodes not yet adapted

This includes the most recent addition to the Star Wars franchise: The Force Awakens.

Total budget? $306 million.

Net profit? $780.11 million.

It’s no small feat to achieve a record of not only being the Star Wars’ franchise highest grossing film, but Disney’s as well.

However, as stated in our previous reasons, The Clone Wars would not even need such a large sum to take off again and would be more than capable of bringing out impressive profits for an animated show.

If there is one thing fans are intrigued by when it comes to the Star Wars universe, it’s seeing the characters they’ve read in comics and novels come to life on a screen.

That appeal is more than enough to inspire profits from fans that would, without any doubt, be satisfied and excited at the prospect of The Clone Wars returning.

Sources :

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Examining Disney's Revenue

How much would it cost Disney to Finish The Clone Wars?

From general research, we have collected the information below:

Disney is no stranger into investing in large projects

Reason #4: Disney Has the Financial Power