Why did The Greatest Story Ever Told run over schedule and budget?

The production of The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) ran over schedule and budget primarily due to director George Stevens’s characteristic meticulousness.12

Throughout his career, Stevens was noted for his extreme attention to detail and extensive research. This commitment to precision often resulted in longer shooting schedules and higher production costs, which frequently frustrated studio executives. While these habits were a hallmark of his filmmaking process, they contributed to the significant delays and financial overruns associated with this particular biblical epic.21