1. One un-repopped vintage item fans persist in writing you about (like me) is the vintage Death Star playset. Given that it's mostly empty space and cardboard, and if Hasbro still has the original molds, wouldn't it be rather easy to crank it out again? You've written in the past about the feasibility of re-releasing it as separate floors with maybe new features to keep the cost down, so why doesn't Hasbro listen to us on this one?
--Chris

The original Kenner Death Star Space Station was around $19 at Sears in the 1970s, which I believe would put it close to $100 adjusted for inflation, assuming no "collector tax." (Also, Disney's royalty payment is likely much higher than Lucasfilm's was.) Would I pay $100 for a minty fresh version of this, preferably with some sort of unique pack-in figure (even just Stormtroopers?) You bet.

The original molds are most likely in a harbor in Hong Kong somewhere being used as a boat anchor, no longer in functioning order. Kenner/Hasbro had very few of them left for the 1990s era, and supposedly a few of the POTF2 ships were sourced from fan samples that recreated the tooling while others weren't. Is this true? I have heard a lot of conflicting stories, but on the whole - supposedly - those old molds are shot and/or gone. Maybe we'll find out otherwise in a year, but I really doubt it. It costs Hasbro and Kenner money to store molds. These things are big and heavy, weighing tons and supposedly being car-sized. To assume they survived 40-50 years without being used seems incredibly unlikely. I won't say impossible, but do you think Kenner - let alone Tonka and later Hasbro after buying Kenner - would all agree to pay rent on keeping a mold for a then-stale sci-fi movie toy just in case Generation X wanted to rebuy it in 50 years? I would consider it to be a genuine miracle. The 1990s reissues of Luke, Vader, Han, and Chewie were new molds from the original figures - presumably most of these toys were (or will be) new and/or refurbished molds.

There's also a Palitoy one with fewer plastic elements, and I'd love both to get another run.

Why wouldn't Hasbro listen to fans? There aren't many of us talking this up. The 50th anniversary of the movie means most fans are probably in their 50s, or even 60s, and they're not vocal online fans making a fuss. (I'm a baby, being born shortly before The Empire Strikes Back.) I don't encounter a lot of lifers from the old days in the biz as much, and in online circles it feels like the community is getting older and smaller. I don't doubt fans are out there who can be convinced to buy this stuff just by putting it in front of them, as this is a generation that remembers toy stores. The business has moved much more online, and I don't know that the older fans are all in board with pre-ordering things when they remember just buying it at a shop. And as for HasLab, I assume a lot of people might be old and cynical to say "I've got enough stuff" or "I'll just buy the original."

I've been saying "It's now or never!" and I'm beginning to think it's going to be "never." I'm happy for every new (old) figure that we get - but why wait at this point? The economy is what it is. Manufacturing costs and import fees are going up. It is my hope Hasbro hits the ground running in 2027 with a real program that goes beyond one store exclusive SKU. Stores want to sell this stuff. Take their money.

I cannot imagine Hasbro getting to 2028 without offering some form of Death Star to fans, be it a HasLab or a more affordable, modular item in stores. Given that the Darth Vader's TIE Fighter for The Vintage Collection was $130 and, let's be honest, not that much better than a lot of kid ships? I'd love to see Hasbro proton torpedo Vintage price points and just make a one-size-fits-all 3 3/4-inch product that would hopefully work with all figure brands. Drop the weathering, maybe lose a few painted buttons, and get the costs down. Retro would be the way to do it cheaply, but the most vocal and loud fans demand movie props at toy prices. So, more of you need to be chatty on the Instas and the forums and maybe you can make a difference.

Ad: Get In-Stock Star Wars and other Rerun Pre-Orders at Entertainment Earth! Get Free USA Shipping on Orders $79+

 

2. It's now 2026, so I can correctly ask: Next year is Star Wars' big 50th anniversary. If Hasbro has plans for it (which they should), by now shouldn't they be finalizing designs for special releases and making prototypes for production by Fall? Have you heard any whispers about what's in store for us?

As a fan, and if Hasbro listened to us seriously, what would YOU tell them to do for the 50th? Maybe a Retro first wave set with a repopped Vinyl Jawa? Complete Retro reissue of the POTF figures and coins?
--T

50 years is a big milestone, but I don't think that's going to equate to a big Hasbro toy line. Hasbro no longer does big launches with enough stuff to fill a cart in a store, and I don't think any of the 40th anniversary repack extravaganzas lasted more than three waves. I have seen nothing for 2027 but I do not expect to be floored. I think we'll be lucky to have a 3 3/4-inch anniversary line that rivals the relaunch in 1995 (that is, 12ish figures, 5ish ships.)

The most important thing for Star Wars would be better engagement while making old fans feel like kids again. Make fans happy. Let them have fun and do whatever you can to not make it an anxious quest where people just give up or aren't even aware there's an anniversary happening. Clear pegwarmers after 3-4 months, ship new waves (even if they're smaller) every 45-60 days. More than anything, I want Hasbro to give fans a reason to leave their houses and see the stuff in person, because that's how people start collecting. If people see dusty, leftover figures from a streaming series that ended two years ago? That is a bad experience which will not lead to repeated purchases. Mattel puts enough Hot Wheels out that it's never dull to hunt, and seeing a random older car can be a treat sometimes. Walmart's Star Wars pegwarmers are old enough to be enrolled in preschool and it's just a chore to look at the same figures for months - and often, years.

Due to the kind of conversations I have, I would rather not go into detail about what I'd like to see, as I've also talked to Hasbro about what I'd like to see. But if the 2027 line winds up being reruns... ask me again.

Hasbro people have made public statements about 2027 being a big deal with Retro as some part of the focus. Is it just talk? I don't know. If 2027 ends without at least one old-school vehicle to go with some familiar figures, I think we can basically say the line's best days are behind it. Maybe 3D print some stuff, or hope someone makes dubiously compatible Mini-Rigs without a license.

I do not expect Star Wars as an IP to get "cool" again for a new audience unless they hire Scott Alexander, Larry Karaszewski, and Tim Burton to make a George Lucas biopic that's light on accuracy but long on fun. The trilogy is capable of being reframed as something great, but I don't think it can be done in the context of a legacy sequel or even a really good streaming series. The franchise is a little long in the tooth. (See also, The Wizard of Oz remakes and sequels utterly failing to engage until Wicked.) Call me a downer, but I don't think there's another great Star Wars story to be told until they get away from reassuring fans that they, too, are also fans. No more Death Stars, no reborn Empires. Side stories with new faces in existing time periods? Awesome. More of that, sure, make each new series or movie a place for a new fan to start fresh, and for crying out loud - no more cliffhangers that don't get resolved.

For maximized success, I would also suggest removing all licensed Star Wars products from store aisles in August/September until the 50th launch, whenever that is. Nobody should be seeing figures from two (or five) years ago. Clear out the old stuff, let demand build, and maybe you'll see people revitalized and excited rather than jaded and exhausted. With Walmarts here having gone from nothin' but Lando to Somehow Even More Unsold 501st Clones and Mandalorian Supercommando figures, I have low hopes for 2026 and 2027's success demands a complete flush of old product from shelves. And I really, really hope that they build something (or build on top of something) that makes people happy.

Become a Patron!

Special thanks to our generous Patreon patrons, especially: JT, Jared, Bobb, Christopher, Daniel, Dan, Tim, Jayson, Matthew, Michael, Robert, Stephen, Todd DrReiCow, Eddie, Jeremy, Mario, and Todd! Thanks for helping us keep the servers on!

FIN

I feel like 2027 and 2028 are going to be the mission statement for Lucasfilm and Hasbro going forward. We have a new movie in 2026 and also 2027. We have a movie anniversary in 2027 and a toy anniversary in 2028. A 50th anniversary means the little boys who bought the toys and played with Kenner toys are now 54-62, give or take. Collectors don't tend to explode in number at that age, and the toy aisles are... look, why sugarcoat it? They're not the worst they've ever been, but they're not exactly inviting to newbies or to lifers these days.

I know a lot of people have visions of turning back the clock to Force Friday/Midnight Madness with massive aisles packed with toys. This will not happen again. Toys R Us is dead, Kmart and Kay-Bee are gone, and regional toy stores are wiped off the map. There's no Toys By Roy or Lionel PlayWorld to lift the line. It's up to fans making a stink and buying stuff when they see it, and this is probably going to be the last big shot at whatever it is they decide to do. Unless Lucasfilm decides to make a program for one specific store, I assume it's going to keep going like it's been - online launches, pre-orders, and waiting. So much waiting.

I do not realistically think there's going to be a big push for the 60th unless 2027 is a bona fide phenomenon with new international fans driving things. I'm not sure if they'll even make a fuss for the 50th of The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi, as we didn't see much hay made for The Phantom Menace at 10 or 20 or 25.

I read a joke a long time ago about how we wouldn't be Star Wars fans if we were happy, and that seems to check out with the many anniversary lines. The 20th anniversary was pretty good (Special Edition tie-in), with a lot of firsts. Tarkin, a Skyhopper, Slave Leia, but 1997 collectors wanted more articulation and that would come later. 2002 fans got three sets for the 25th anniversary. The 30th anniversary covered a massive swatch of the franchise - coins, Holiday Special Boba Fett, Tortured Han Solo, Biggs, Hermi Odle, and so on - but again, lots of complaining. The 40th anniversaries were heavy on repacks and The Black Series but at least 2023 Return of the Jedi got us some new Barge Guards and a reissue of Retro Yak Face. Usually you can walk away from each year with at least a few things you'll enjoy, but the line is also so gosh darned big that it is super easy to lose sight over how much great stuff we have, already, and how hard it is to come up with something new that will excite a big number of people. (Yes, I think you can blame multiple competing figure formats for this.)

It's probably up to the fans to try to come up with specific figures, ships, or playsets and let Hasbro know. They can't read our minds. We got a Barge because tons of fans organized and asked for it with one, loud, clear voice. Fans also wanted a Cantina (check), Tonnikas (check), and a Death Star (we'll see.) Beyond that? Well, I keep asking for Vlix. I don't hear a lot of consistency out of fans beyond "more original trilogy" which leaves a lot of room for interpretation. Organize, and maybe you'll get what you want.

--Adam Pawlus

Got questions? Email me with Q&A in the subject line now! I'll answer your questions as soon as time (or facts) permit.

Social media? Sure. Bluesky | Fediverse | Mastodon | Tumblr | Instagram

I'm on Instagram! All Pictures from a GameBoy Camera.