The countdown to a new era of Star Wars is on!
One week from tonight, audiences will experience the first episode of The Mandalorian as the Disney+ streaming service makes its debut on devices across the country. While the second (and likely final) full trailer debuted last week, new TV spots are rolling out, and they’re packed with tiny morsels of new goodness from a dust-coated new frontier. In the latest spot, we get our first look at Ming-Na Wen (Mulan) in her role as a mysterious assassin known as Fennec Shand. We also get a look at an Imperial Scout Trooper riding a speeder bike that’s straight out of Return of the Jedi (1983)
Blowing Up Jabba’s Sail Barge:
Speaking of ‘Jedi, one of the most famous scenes from the final chapter of the original Star Wars Trilogy was when Jabba’s Sail Barge — The Khetanna — was blown to bits high above the Pit of Carkoon. That iconic scene was shot on the roof of an Industrial Light and Magic (ILM) facility in Marin County, California, and 36 years later, The Star Was Show went back to the scene of the crime for another explosion. The former ILM shop now houses 32Ten Studios, and with one of last year’s epic Hasbro-produced Jabba’s Sail Barge play sets in hand, the crew designed a way to recreate the shot using modern camera technology and a practical explosion. For history’s sake, they even shot it on film using one of the vintage cameras from the original shoot. The results are truly explosive. RIP HasLab Sail Barge!
More Conventions, More New Action Figures
As we noted last week, convention season is getting longer, and when you go international, the reveals are now a year-long global affair. This past weekend the Hasbro Star Wars team made appearances at Lucca Comics & Games (Tuscany, Italy) and Manga Barcelona (Spain) where they unveiled even more new action figures for the months ahead.
Unsurprisingly, the focus was on new offerings and some repacks of best-sellers for The Vintage Collection and The Black Series, but the assortment was a surprise. Next year will bring more characters from the Star Wars Prequel Trilogy as well as The Clone Wars and some focus on The Empire Strikes Back in celebration of the film’s 40th anniversary in May.
Hasbro’s 6-inch scale Black Series lineup will add Plo Koon, Kit Fisto, Count Dooku, and a Battle Droid (Geonosis).
The Vintage Collection will gain a host of new figures including a Clone Trooper, Luke Skywalker (Bespin), Han Solo, C-3PO, General Lando Calrissian, Remnant Stormtrooper (The Mandalorian), Obi-Wan Kenobi (The Clone Wars), Anakin Skywalker (The Clone Wars), Darth Maul, and Wicket the Ewok.
Additionally, two new Black Series Force FX Elite Lightsabers are on the way with Kit Fisto and Asajj Ventress’ elegant weapons headed for stores next spring.
Further Transmissions:
- If you were hoping to get in on early access for Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, that’s not gonna happen. EA opted to launch for everyone on Nov. 15 “to avoid story spoilers.”
- The Levis x Star Wars collection brings some intergalactic style to the world of denim.
- If you’re new to The Vintage Collection, check out this primer on the first wave of figures from The Rise of Skywalker.
- Star Wars Kabuki will open in Toyko later this month. The play will include scenes from The Rise of Skywalker… but how spoilery can they be?
Photos: Hasbro
