Netflix’s new original series The Get Down holds the title of the most expensive TV production Netflix has had. Production cost the company €6.8 million ($7.5 million) per episode, rounding up to a massive €109 million ($120 million) in total.

The Get Down shows the birth of hip-hop culture in 1970s South Bronx, New York. The series is produced by Moulin Rouge producer Baz Luhrmann, making it his first TV production. The series is due to premiere on Netflix on August 12.

“I really believed that I was sort of going to be an uncle to the project,” Luhrmann told The Variety.

“The mechanism that pre-existed to create TV shows didn’t really work for this show. At every step of the way there was no precedent for what we were doing. The standard process really didn’t work, so progressively, I was drawn more and more into the center of it.”

According to The Variety, the slow pace of progression and changing creative direction were among the causes for the hefty budget. Elaborate dance and music numbers and getting the rights to classic disco and dance songs also added to the cost.

“It’s very challenging getting the balance of music and story right,” writer and series consultant Nelson George said.

“It’s not like doing a regular [scripted] TV show. We have full-on dance production numbers in every episode. That all took a lot more time than everyone thought.”

The ever-growing cost and production problems caused some tension between Lurhmann, Netflix and the producing company Sony Pictures Television, sparking thoughts of cancelling the entire project. But Netflix says it remains hopeful the series will be a success.

“We’re about supporting our artists and supporting their vision,” Netflix’s vice president of original content Cindy Holland said.

“Working with Baz and his team was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. Every aspect of the process was unconventional. It was really inspiring.”

Watch The Get Down trailer below.