Adam's Star Wars Newsletter #013 March 22, 2023 **************** CONTENTS I. Prologue II. The New Hasbro Reveals III. The New Hasbro Releases IV. New Stories V. Bootleg Bonanza VI. Kenner Corner VII. Fin **************** I. Prologue We don't always get what we want, but Hasbro granted a few of my wishes with their The Book of Boba Fett wave of The Retro Collection figures. While I can't say Tusken Boba Fett was high on my wish list, Krrsantan was! Having him and Fennec Shand and Cad Bane in Kenner style has me pretty pumped for 2023 - or 2024, who knows - mostly because I really like getting a nice themed wave of figures. Honestly, getting two waves of new figures from The Mandalorian - and a third from The Book of Boba Fett - in Kenner style is sort of one of those "beyond my wildest dreams" moments. Getting new figures in the style of my childhood toys - imperfect as they may be - is the kind of thing I never would have expected to see, let alone see continue for a few years. While it's late - ridiculously, preposterously late - Hasbro is churning out some really cool figures for The Book of Boba Fett. And more importantly, they're doing a better job than they need to do. A 6-inch The Black Series Luke Skywalker with Grogu lit up fan chatter because he had a new shirt and different boots - which matched the show! We all probably missed the changes because we were staring at the de-aged Luke Skywalker face the whole time. It makes me wonder what other newness or surprises are in the shows or costumes that we don't notice because Hasbro hasn't made toys yet and nobody is putting out art-of books or those big DK Visual Dictionary volumes for the current generation. Sure, we've got the show, but making out details has proven to be difficult in some streaming series. Also notable, the rumor mill seems to indicate a Star Wars movie script was turned in and the writers may not be crazy about it. More on that below. **************** II. The New Hasbro Reveals Exclusive items denoted below. Follow the following sponsored affiliate links to place pre-orders (we may get a cut of the sales on these affiliate links): Amazon New Star Wars Pre-Orders: https://amzn.to/3l37odz Entertainment Earth New Star Wars Pre-Orders: https://bit.ly/3E0SvBh The Black Series Figures __ Clone Commander Jesse (Walmart Exclusive) __ Darth Malgus (Deluxe) __ Ki-Adi Mundi (Shared Exclusive) __ Luke Skywalker & Grogu (Deluxe) __ Tusken Chieftan The Black Series Figures (40th Anniversary Return of the Jedi) __ Darth Vader (Revenge of the Jedi Poster / Celebration Exclusive) __ Endor Rebel Commando (Deluxe) The Black Series Gift Sets __ NED-B and Purge Trooper (Carbonized, Amazon Exclusive) The Black Series - Props __ Clone Trooper (Ahsoka Loyalist) Helmet __ Scout Trooper Helmet The Vintage Collection Figures __ Admiral Piett __ Cad Bane __ Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor) __ Clone Captain Howser (Ballast with corrected name) __ Darth Vader (ROTJ Reveal) __ Han Solo (Endor Raid) __ Starkiller (Secret Apprentice) __ Tusken Warrior __ Weequay The Vintage Collection Special Items __ Imperial Speeder Bike (The Mandalorian __ The Mandalorian's N1 Starfighter __ Phase II Clone Trooper (212th with Waxer, Pulse Exclusive) The Retro Collection __ Boba Fett (Nomad) __ Cad Bane __ Fennec Shand __ Grogu __ Luke Skywalker (Jedi) __ The Mandalorian __ Krrsantan __ Tusken Raider The Retro Collection Special Items __ The Mandalorian (Prototype, Target Exclusive) Droid Factory (Disney) **************** III. The New Hasbro Releases The Black Series __ Doctor Aphra (Coat) __ Mara Jade The Vintage Collection __ Artillery Stormtrooper __ Cal Kestis __ Cassian Andor (Andor) __ Klatooinian Raider __ Luke Skywalker (Imperial Light Cruiser) __ Vel Sartha The Vintage Collection Special Items __ Figrin D'an and the Modal Nodes (Pulse/Shared) __ Speeder Bike & Scout Trooper The Retro Collection __ Biker Scout __ The Emperor __ Han Solo (Endor Trenchcoat) __ Lando Calrissian (Skiff Guard Disguise) __ Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight) __ Princess Leia Organa (Boushh Disguise) Droid Factory (Disney) **************** IV. New Stories The Young Jedi Adventures TV series will kick off on May 4. This is the preschooler-driven cartoon set in the High Republic era, which I assume means nobody who was an original trilogy kid will be watching unless it's with their own kids. Product for the show is still under wraps, which will no doubt make you wonder why given that most of the stuff that's kept tip-top secret are things like "Chewbacca" and "Lightsaber." I assume someone must be getting a nice pay check keeping non-secret things a mystery. Lucasfilm supposedly shelved the in-the-works Patty Jenkins Star Wars Rogue Squadron film, and the mystery Kevin Feige movie also supposedly hit the bricks. Damon Lindelof and Justin Britt-Gibsom handed in a Star Wars script for the Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy directed movie, and the writers apparently already immediately quit. This was one of the movies expected to be out in 2025, so unless they writers quit because it's done (which seems unlikely) it could be possible we actually don't get a Star Wars film in 2025 either. Which seems fine - having a break for 10 years worked pretty well between Revenge of the Sith and The Force Awakens. As I write this, episode 14 (of 16) of Star Wars: The Bad Batch is about to go live! Also about to air is The Mandalorian episode 4, which has felt like an extended prologue and back story souflé with fewer stand-alone adventures. This makes it a little more like Andor. **************** V. Bootleg Bonanza Stan Solo Creations continues to sell their Custom Marion Ravenwood from The Adventures of Indiana Jones, making it - I believe - the first time we're able to take a Hasbro reissue figure and compare it to a Stan Solo release. Which will prove superior? I don't know, but one is certainly cheaper. Stan Solo Creations also put up custom Rebel Fleet Trooper and Offworld Jawa figures. I might be picking some of those up later. Orbitdyne has been pumping out some retro-style Space Bar playsets that look like alternate universe takes on the Creature Cantina. You can find them here: https://www.etsy.com/shop/orbitdyne A larger one has gone in and out of stock. TrashCompactor326382 continues to put up 3D printed upgrade parts and entire figures. It requires a level of skull (and UK shipping) beyond my reach, but it's excellent stuff. $1.28 for a Boushh-sized thermal detonator accessory is something the world needs, and you can get one there. **************** VI. Kenner Corner While not much has come up for Kenner, Super7 ReAction Figures added Svengoolie, Devo, Biz Markie, Dio, and lots of other stuff that may be worth a look. I should also note the very good Ghost Rider Motorcycle with figure is shipping, and you should get that too. Hasbro confirmed the Marvel line is coming to an end, and Canadian fans have reported those figures showing up for a mere $5 CAN in some closeout stores - so what you've seen revealed? That's it. It's over. Not only has Hasbro revealed some retro Indy figures, but I saw the German Mechanic in a Target store recently. Adventures of Indiana Jones Retro Reveals __ Belloq (Ceremonial Robes) __ Dr. Henry Jones, Sr. (Target exclusive) __ German Mechanic __ Indiana Jones __ Indiana Jones (Last Crusade, Fan Channel exclusive) __ Indiana Jones (Temple of Doom, Target exclusive) __ Marion Ravenwood __ Sallah (Target exclusive) __ Short Round (Target exclusive) __ Toht If you're still shopping in stores, it appears Target is getting cases of some of the retro Return of the Jedi figures. I saw Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight), Han Solo (Endor), and The Emperor (Pegwarmer Disguise) showing up last weekend. **************** VII. Fin The next Star Wars Celebration in the USA has been announced for 2025 - which probably means a movie is in the works, at least as of now. Given how many movie projects have been shelved, iced, or punted, it's also very possible that there ultimately will not be a movie then - but it makes sense, given the next Avatar movie is late in 2024. Meanwhile, Celebration Europe is April 7-10 of this year. A new movie announcement is expected. I will continue my proud tradition of not going, but I'm eager to read the news. Also potentially of interest, the UK sci-fi series Red Dwarf has apparently just come out the other end of some tangled rights issues and something new is said to be in the works. I write this before having seen any of the post-Y2K episodes or movies as I finish a rewatch of the 1990s episodes, so I don't know if this is reason to rejoice or not. If that weren't enough, Doctor Who fans are being treated to Doom's Day in the form of a trailer with a multi-platform story that sounds sort of like someone is trying to do a Shadows of the Empire for fans of the Doctorb. (The b is for British.) See you next mission! --Adam ****************