Are Hasbro and Lucas Film (Disney) Falling out of Love

[monkey_roo]

I guess this a Modern thread thing given I'm talking about new SW toys. I was reading this article (which is quite speculative): https://www.jeditemplearchives.com/2024-09-20-the-star-wars-rumor-zone-weekend-fun-edition/

But at the same time, kinda rings true - SW is no longer a top 10 toy brand, I can't remember when I last saw meaningful stock on shelves anywhere other than 'specialist' shops - hell even the Forbidden Planet store in London only had a fraction of the SW stock it used to carry even 5 years ago last time I checked.

At the end of the day with tanking content, a dwindling audience (kids) and stronger competition SW just isn't selling these days - why would Hasbro stay with it, they are a company after all and only exist to make money....

As I think about it, I am not sure I am even sad at the thought (maybe glad), with the 50th on the horizon, and realistically I can't see Hasbro breaking their current deal, the legal ramifications would end them, rather they might choose not to renew in 2027, but that could well be the last we see of SW/Hasbro and given the time it takes to design and build waves, it could be that 2025 is the last year of any real active development by Hasbro (Such as it is) and from 2026 onwards it basically winds down??????

Although worth noting that Lego SW is a popular as ever - Construction Toys are classified differently to Action Figures - but worth noting that where Hasbro struggle, Lego are not - that said four weeks after it's release the Onix from Skeleton Crew is already 25% off on Amazon, so maybe some aspects related to newer content are struggling, but OT is not - and that new sail barge with literally fly off the shelves next month.....

 

[Grant_C]

Its because Disney released **** movies and tv shows that have to have contractually obligated pegs of female action figures that don't even sell for £1.

I bet if Hasbro was permitted to ignore the Disney nonsense and make the 100's of posts dedicated to 'top 20/25/50 wants' on Instagram, they would be quids in.

Guess the man with green hair in a dress audience doesnt have the same volume as the 30+ male.

 

[Grant_C]

I literally thought in 2014 that the return of old man Han and Luke would make me permanently broke.

Should have realised we would have PTSD characters written by bourgeois

 

[lejackal]

Luke should have been brought in as the guy that took out Vader and reignited the Jedi order, even if he had a setback (Ren)

He should not have been a liability on an island drinking milk

 

[Grant_C]

The Rey film may be cancelled now.

Got a heads up about this month ago as none of the logistics and pre-planning stuff had been booked for any production.

 

[monkey_roo]

Very much looks like the Rey film is dead in the water now - a few places on the ever so reliable interweb have been 'reporting' that of late - plus the really strange round of talkshows and shouting about it the director was doing, as if to say look at me, look at this we're here before it was all green-lit.

I think for most people this is good news and again for Hasbro - this is bad news, they've paid out millions (billions) for a dead licence. With only Mando Movie and a few niche TV Shows known about for the next few years not much for them to work with really.

You can't call it dead as there are new shows and a film coming, but very much slowed down and it feels like they are just finishing off the Mando/Rebels story since that is their most popular stuff to date. Lucas Film was hiring new animation staff a few months back so there could well be a new animated show heading our way soon.

time for it all to take a break and reset in a few years, hopefully this time with real love behind it.... But again, all this leave Hasbro with a turd on their books and it's easy to see why they want rid of it - which is odd because I can't see Lego giving up their licence or slowing down what they make each year, film or no film.... Different target market I guess.

 

[Grant_C]

To be honest, I think the Mando film is a knee jerk reaction to huge decline and feedback. It's being filmed in LA like the Tv shows so expect a quick cheap attempt at a win that will be flaccid.

 

[monkey_roo]

Came across this as well - again may mean nothing but if you read through the full list of licences Hasbro are bigging-up Licensing Europe 2024 you will notice one IP is not mentioned once.... https://tformers.com/hasbro-returns...rs-and-more-licensed-products/53702/news.html

Anyway - Not sure Mando is a Knee Jerk as such, but it could well be. It is is the only big hit for the SW team in the last few years - I rather bet that Favreau would have been playing with a season 4, but really after season 3 there may not have been an appetite for it, so a shortened story that wraps everything up made more sense and so I would be surprised if he pitched to finish off with a movie and given the popularity of the characters Disney were happy to go with that. I also think it will end all the shows from that era allowing for a clean start once more - also not a bad shout...