Star Wars with occasional sarcasm
The Star Wars app is all in for Force Friday. Follow the directions in the video below to get prepped ahead of time (you’ll need some decent wifi for the setup) and get an early glimpse at the feature. If you don’t have it already, the Star Wars app is available on iOS and Android.
Hot toy alert: Radio Flyer is making a landspeeder! It’s drivable, seats two, has an interactive dashboard (with sound!) and will cost you a cool $499.99. (Maybe the price will go down when the XP-38 comes out?) Continue reading “Kids these days to get to ride around in a mini landspeeder, because life is unfair”
Remember the Star Wars Monopoly game that launched the #WheresRey campaign? Despite Hasbro’s promises, it turns out that Rey never made to the U.S. version of the game “due to insufficient interest” from retailers, a Hasbro spokewoman told the AP.
People who buy the game here can request a piece from Hasbro – they’ve had just over a hundred requests in North America. The Rey game piece can be found (sometimes) in five other markets, including the U.K. and France.
The #WheresRey campaign did seem to have an impact on Rogue One marketing – Jyn Erso toys did not seem to be in any short supply, and hopefully the trend will hold for The Last Jedi.
Of course there’s a BB-8 cake mold, and of course Thinkgeek carries it as part of their wide variety of geeky kitchenware. My only question: Do you eat his head first?
Her Universe’s new website is up, and it’s just one of the changes coming to the brand following their acquisition by Hot Topic. There are some new products, but new collections are coming “in the summer” – though Ashley Eckstein mentioned new stuff coming for Celebration in April. A cheaper shipping rate, more consistent sizing and even (in some cases) international shipping is coming. You can read Ashley’s letter or check out her Facebook Live video (or watch the Youtube version below) for more details.
→ Riz Ahmed appeared on Stephen Colbert, and of course he wasn’t allowed to get away without some Star Wars talk. He also appeared during Good Morning America‘s toy reveal, where he got to see his first Bodhi Rook action figure.
→ Dave Filoni talks Saw Gerrera to /Film, and the character’s journey from The Clone Wars to an actual film.
→ Technically a rumor: The Emperor will not be in Rogue One. Okay then. (Were we really expecting him? Really?)
→ Director Gareth Edwards on the Rogue One title. I’ve been sitting on this one a while, because it basically looks like Edwards trying to dodge the real answer.
→ And finally, Jalopnik’s Jason Torchinsky on droid names (as inspired by Wednesday’s C2-B5 reveal) and how they make no sense. Long story short: It ain’t that kind of franchise, nerds.
Rogue One toys are launching with… A webseries? Well, okay. You can also get a look at the new toys at Entertainment Weekly’s All-Jyn extravaganza and USA Today.
Despite early leads by Darth Talon and Starkiller, Jaina Solo won Hasbro’s 2016 fan choice figure poll. (Here’s the percentages just before the poll closed.)
Jaina, the oldest child and only daughter of Leia Organa and Han Solo in decanonized Legends timeline, has had at least one figure from Hasbro in the past, plus a Bishoujo-style statue from Kotobukiya. The new figure will take some time: The fruits of last year’s poll – Darth Revan and Sabine Wren – aren’t expected to hit the shelves until late this year.
Hasbro announced several new figures at SDCC, including a 6′ Hera Syndulla and an Imperial Royal Guard inspired in part by the (also Legends) comic Crimson Empire.
And getting a 3.75 figure, the newly canonized Grand Admiral Thrawn, who will appear in the upcoming third season of Rebels. (His rank will be correct on the final figure.)
Star Wars Story Talk (AKA the show formerly known as Unboxing Star Wars) gets in one more episode before Star Wars Celebration Europe! This time, Baby Jawa, Yowie the Skunk, and I try some snacks and review two books: LEGO Star Wars: The Chronicles of the Force, by Adam Bray, David Fentiman, and Cole Horton; and the junior novelization of The Force Awakens by Michael Kogge. Plus a little update on where I’ll be in the coming weeks —Star Wars Celebration Europe and San Diego Comic-Con. Hamburger Helper, Cheez-It crackers, and of course some Baby Jawa fun time!
Quick reviews
→ LEGO Star Wars: Chronicles of the Force – A fun and fact-filled guide to both Star Wars and LEGO Star Wars in particular. Lots of focus on LEGO minifigures and sets with plenty of call outs about the story of Star Wars. Plus the exclusive Unkar Plutt’s thug minifigure.
→ Star Wars: The Force Awakens junior novel – Thumbs up! Michael Kogge pens the adaptation of the film for the younger audiences. Quite a few scenes in it that weren’t in the film, and we see a few scenes a bit differently as well. Plus an insert of color photos from the movie.
→ Cheez-It Star Wars crackers – The cheesy square crackers have Star Wars shapes stamped into them! A Star Wars food tie-in done right.
→ Ultimate Hamburger Helper – Star Wars – Barely a tie-in. The food’s the same. Just an offer for $5 of movie concessions if you submit a photo of a receipt showing the purchase of 3 or more boxes. A Star Wars food tie-in done pretty sad.
Where to see jawajames at Star Wars Celebration Europe:
→ Friday: STEM Heroes and Heroines of Star Wars, 12:00p to 1:00p, Star Wars Fan & Collector’s Stage, with Tricia Barr, Cole Horton, Kevin Beentjes, and Hannah Gillis.
→ Saturday: International Star Wars Fandom, 10:30a to 11:30a, Star Wars Fan & Collector’s Stage, with Mark Newbold (UK), Tim Veekhoven (Belgium), Johanna Nybelius (Sweden), and Kevin Beentjes (Netherlands).
Get more info on Wear Star Wars Every Day or make a donation at GoFundMe or sign up to make a per-day pledge.
Note: DK Publishing provided a copy of LEGO Star Wars: Chronicles of the Force for review.
Thinkgeek (of course) is now selling a set of lightsaber-themed screwdrivers. The Vader and Yoda hilts are flatheads, and the Luke hilt is a Phillips.