Adam's Star Wars Newsletter #014 April 20, 2023 **************** CONTENTS I. Prologue II. The New Hasbro Reveals III. The New Hasbro Releases IV. New Stories V. Odds and Ends VI. Kenner Corner VII. Fin **************** I. Prologue Star Wars Celebration is sometimes really fascinating and sometimes a marketing obligation. And this year, it seems to be both. We're hearing new toy reveals, three new movies, and some updates on TV projects. The Mandalorian is almost over for the year, we're just weeks away from Young Jedi Adventures and another season of Star Wars Visions, and there was a big convention in England last weekend. A lot of pre-orders are going up and for some odd reason, many announcements were held back with even more things shown on fan sites today. Hasbro must really love Cad Bane! Anyway, check out the below for all the newest news. **************** 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 __ Black Krrsantan __ Cad Bane __ Clone Commander Appo (501t Legion, Target Exclusive) __ Darth Maul (Old Master, Gaming Greats, GameStop Exclusive) __ Darth Vader (Damaged/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Walmart Exclusive) __ Darth Vader (Return of the Jedi 40th) __ Dok Ondar (Shop Disney Exclusive) __ Emperor's Royal Guard (reissue, 40th) __ General Grievous (GameStop Exclusive) __ Luke Skywalker (Jedi Knight / Death Star Duel, 40th) __ Mandalorian Fleet Commander __ Obi-Wan Kenobi (Obi-Wan Kenobi, Walmart Exclusive) __ Qui-Gon Jinn (Spirit/Obi-Wan Kenobi, Walmart Exclusive) __ R2-D2 (New body, 40th) __ R5-D4 (new body) The Black Series Figures (40th Anniversary Return of the Jedi) The Black Series Gift Sets __ Cobb Vanth & Cad Bane (Target Exclusive) __ Force Spirits (Anakin, Obi-Wan, Yoda, Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney Exclusive) __ Jabba the Hutt & Salacious Crumb (Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney Exclusive) The Black Series - Props __ Clone Trooper Helmet (Ahsoka Loyaist) The Vintage Collection Figures __ Admiral Krennic __ Boba Fett (Tusken) __ Darth Revan __ Grand Admiral Thrawn __ Grand Inquisitor __ Krrsantan (Deluxe) __ Luke Skywalker (Jedi Academy) __ Pre Vizsla __ R5-D4 (new body) The Vintage Collection Special Items __ N-1 Starfighter & The Mandalorian Figure __ Tusken Raiders (The Book of Boba Fett 4-pack, Hasbro Pulse exclusive) __ Jabba's Court Denizens 4-pack - Ree-Yees, Taym Dren-Garen, Tessek, Velken Tezeri (Hasbro Pulse/Shop Disney) __ Tusken Warrior and Massiff (Target Exclusive) The Retro Collection __ Luke Skywalker (Jedi Academy, repack of Jedi Knight) Other __ Chatter Back Chopper (Hasbro interactive droid toy) **************** III. The New Hasbro Releases The Black Series Figures __ Clone Commando (Mercenary Gear, Walmart exclusive) __ Echo (Mercenary Gear, Walmart exclusive) __ Hunter (Mercenary Gear, Walmart exclusive) __ Omega (Mercenary Gear) __ Tech (Mercenary Gear, Walmart exclusive) __ Wrecker (Mercenary Gear, Walmart exclusive) The Vintage Collection Special Items __ Admiral Piett __ Cal Kestis __ Cassian Andor (Aldahani Mission) __ Clone Trooper (Phase II Armor, Andor) __ Hunter __ Starkiller (Vader's Apprentice) The Vintage Collection Special Items __ AT-ST & Chewbacca __ Endor Bunker The Retro Collection __ 4-LOM & Zuckuss The Retro Collection Special Items __ The Mandalorian (Prototype, Target exclusive) **************** IV. New Stories Return of the Jedi is getting a 40th anniversary reissue in theaters on April 28. I assume it will be the most recent streaming edition come to theaters, but we'll wait and see if any new edits are made. Ahsoka, the Disney+ streaming series, debuted a trailer at Star Wars Celebration Europe this year. Interestingly, it shows a bunch of things that have been slowly leaked in news sites - Morgan Lisbeth, Thrawn, and a number of droids and creatures make this look like a pretty good show. Skeleton Crew was also previewed at Star Wars Celebration, and it seems the premise is kids find their way on a mercenary ship and come across Jude Law, who they believe to be a Jedi. The show is due to air in late 2023. It also shows someone in glasses, which is unusual in Star Wars or Star Trek. Acolyte showed a Wookiee Jedi, younglings, and more and I don't believe video is out at press time. Acolyte is set to debut in 2024. Andor Season 2 is expected to stream August 2024. Tales of the Jedi will get a second season at some point. The next Star Wars "trilogy" is a go with James Mangold, Dave Filoni, and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy directing. According to StarWars.com: "James Mangold’s movie will go back to the dawn of the Jedi, while Dave Filoni’s will focus on the New Republic, and close out the interconnected stories told in The Mandalorian, The Book of Boba Fett, Ahsoka, and other Disney+ series. Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy’s film will be set after the events of Rise of Skywalker, and feature Daisy Ridley back as Rey as she builds a new Jedi Order." Dave Filoni's movie is said to be set during The Mandalorian's time period with a New Republic vs. Imperial Remnant battle. James Mangold's movie is set 25,000 years before everything and is described as a "biblical epic." Obaid-Chinoy's film will involve Rey rebuilding the Jedi order. Previously, the Obaid-Chinoy Movie - originally written by Damon Lindelof and Justin Brett-Gibson, now Steven Knight of Peaky Blinders and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire fame is said to be writing it. According to an interview in Variety, Obi-Wan Kenobi Season 2 and the Rian Johnson movies are not in active development. As far as I can tell, the Lando show (announced in 2020), The Book of Boba Fett season 2 (rumored) were not discussed. The Bad Batch will end with season 3. When will the next movie be finished? Probably not until 2025. As of right now, the next Planet of the Apes movie (20th Century/Disney) is slated for May 24, 2024. The next Avatar sequel is set for late 2024 as well. Assuming they don't want to compete with themselves, May or Christmas 2025 is your most likely window - if not 2026. **************** V. Odds and Ends Star Wars Celebration is in Japan April 18-20, 2025. Jazwares revealed Galaxy Squadron AT-AT and Imperial Shuttles at Star Wars Celebration. And a TIE Interceptor, Luke's Landspeeder, Trade Federation Droid Fighter, A-Wing Fighter, TIE Bomber, Wedge X-Wing, Biggs X-Wing, Y-Wing, and presumably others. **************** VI. Kenner Corner If you like Marvel Retro Kenner figures from Hasbro, listen up. Ross stores have started getting them for as little as $3.99, while Ollie's is getting some for $4.99. Your mileage may vary but I saw plenty of Gray Hulk and a few others. If you love Super7 ReAction Figures but not the prices, check FYE. One of my local stores had a lot of figures for as little as $4, and a number of them around $10. **************** VII. Fin And that's it! I don't have a lot to comment on that hasn't been written in Q&A or elsewhere, so there's a lot to collect and a lot to go "haven't I already got one of those?" in the coming months. I'm skipping a few more things than usual, but the Mando Naboo Fighter is pretty exciting. Seeing Hasbro do a 1980s-style "let's pack an old figure on a new cardback with a different logo and see if they notice" gambit with Jedi Luke for The Book of Boba Fett is amusing, to say the least, and I hope they embrace keeping popular figures in circulation. Although I really would have rather they did a new chest and legs, I have to admit, repacking the old toy is the most Kenner-thing Hasbro could do. Applause all around. --Adam ****************