Questions for June 20, 2005
Q&A Archive

1
Is there any reason Master Replicas has not done a Qui-Gon Jinn saber yet? I originally thought this was because Qui-Gon had a role in Episode III and they were saving the merchandise to pitch with the new movie. Now I know this isn't true... What’s the deal?

I don’t believe there’s a specific reason keeping Master Replicas from producing a Qui-Gon Jinn lightsaber; it’s more a matter of timing than anything else. So far most of the Prequel pieces have been centered around the current movies. Since MR wasn’t producing prop replicas at the time of Phantom Menace we haven’t seen much offered from that film. To date, the Maul sabers are the only lightsaber replicas from TPM. I’m sure as the line develops they will get to it eventually, for now it’s just not seen in as high demand as the Episode III or Original Trilogy items.

Update: I've received several emails on this already, based on information MR shared in our forums, it looks like we'll see a Qui-Gon Jinn saber replica released in 2006. There was also mention at C3 that a Maul F/X saber would be released the same year... Sounds like good stuff ahead, thanks to all that took the time to write in and point this out - very cool!


2
Is Hasbro planning on making a full size Death Star Playset anytime in the future there has not been one since 1978? Also, I have not seen the Mustafar playset anywhere, is this a Wal-Mart exclusive or are the collectors just buying all the playsets and selling them on eBay so they can rip everybody off to make money?

No, no large Death Star Playset anytime in the foreseeable future. When asked, Hasbro talks about the tremendous cost of large ticket items and the difficulties of getting retail to buy in. For better or worse, the toy industry just isn't the way it was in 1978. Double no, the Mustafar set is not exclusive to Wal*Mart, until recently it just hadn’t made it’s way through the system. In the last week or so it has finally started to show up in higher numbers, I’ve seen them now at all major retailers in pretty significant numbers.


3
Will there eventually be a loose BARC Trooper figure? The battle on Kashyyyk looks great and that figure plays an important role as average grunt. [It] would be a great army builder.

With the Target exclusive battle sets coming out, will there be a return for small scale (army building) figure sets so that one can really recreate the epic battles seen in ROTS? -Joachim

Absolutely, a basic carded BARC Trooper would be a great army builder, but there’s been no mention of one yet. We might see this figure at Comic Con as one of the last twelve ROTS figures, or we might see it next year as part of a ROTS wave, but it’s certainly something I think Hasbro will do eventually; we’ll just have to wait and see…

Hard to say if Hasbro will follow up with multi mini-figure sets. The line is just starting to build up steam; they could be heading that way, but unlike the Titanium Series Hasbro has announced no plans for the line in 2006. I’ll certainly ask about that in San Diego, hopefully we’ll have more on the future of the line at that time.


4
I know the subject of playsets comes up often and I know that Hasbro is wary of such things. However, do you think it is possible that a TV series, in which certain sets are continuously used, would give Hasbro a reason to bring out playsets again? If there is a commander bridge or an Imperial base that is regularly seen in episodes of the show, it seems to me that Hasbro would have no excuse not to make these. Any thoughts on the subject? -Damian

The television show will almost certainly open up some new possibilities; whether it will coax Hasbro into building more playsets is tough to say. I suppose it would depend on the set, how often it’s on screen, and how central it is to the plot of the show. If the latest scenario turns out to be true, we may very well see a Lar’s Homestead Playset, but I wouldn’t count on this opening doors to more movie based playsets. I don’t know, I have a feeling Hasbro will be very cautious when it comes to any Star Wars television projects. Sure, they’ll support it, but I think they’ll be more likely to ease into television based toys with figures and such, and hold off on playsets and vehicles until the show has proven itself with fans. In any event, we probably won’t know until 2007/2008.


5
I love the animated Clone Wars series, and I watch the season 1 DVD all the time. Any idea when season 2 will be out? How about a cartoon Shadows of the Empire. That'd be incredible. Any chance of that happening? Thanks a lot! -Adam

The Clone Wars Season 2 DVD should be out this Fall, some time around October/November. The only other animated project that’s in works at this time is a continuation of the Clone Wars series by Lucasfilm. If all goes well the door should remain open for other Star Wars projects, but I imagine these would be original in nature. As much as many of us would like to see the Thrawn Trilogy or Shadows of the Empire brought to animation, it’s not likely to happen.

Clarification: Clone Wars Seasons 1 and 2 are available now on the Volume I DVD. Season 3 (the chapters leading up to the events of Revenge of the Sith) is expected to be released in the Fall on the Volume II disk. Just wanted to clear that up...


6
I see that there is a figure for the San Diego CON, but I was wondering if there is one for Chicago? -Matt

As far as I know a specific figure for the Chicago show has not been announced. The Holographic Leia might be available there with show specific packaging, but no announcement has been made yet. Stay tuned though, as we get into the show season more news is sure to turn up.


7
I'm interested in buying the Darth Vader Force FX lightsaber. But I have noticed the upcoming Mace Windu Force FX saber, sounds like a better designed saber according to the details on the website. I want the best possible replica of a lightsaber at that price. Are they planning to redesign the Vader and Luke sabers to match the Windu one?

Having handled both the Mace and the Vader sabers, I can honestly say you won’t be disappointed with either one. In my opinion, the newly designed Vader saber is every bit as well built as the Windu saber, despite the impression you may have gotten from the item description. The only redesign I could possibly see MR taking on next would be to produce the sabers with a removable blade. Short of that, I don’t see them having to do much in the way of upgrading the current versions.


8
Will they ever release a figure of Jango Fett in his shirt when he confronts Obi-Wan in his apartment on Kamino?

For some odd reason, I just don’t see Hasbro producing this figure. It may have made more sense to release it at the time of AOTC, now it just seems pointless. I suppose if Hasbro could find a way to include it in a Screen Scene or Multi-pack it might happen, but alone on a card, I have serious doubts.


9
Well, we didn’t see any KOTOR II exclusive figures, but now with the fall release of Battlefront II, would it be possible to see one, like the Battlefront I Scout Trooper, or was the exclusive changed for the Free T-shirt offered?!? -Darth Noel

Well, there’s been no indication the exclusive was changed from an action figure to the T-shirt; it just looks like they went the apparel route this time around. I suppose it’s still possible we might see an exclusive figure attached to this game; for a Fall release there’s still enough time, especially if all they do is repack an existing figure. Considering game-play will include several Episode III battlefields, I wouldn’t mind seeing a special Clone Trooper repack. The Scout Trooper was a bit of a disappointment, but I wouldn’t complain if they followed up with a nice Super Articulated Clone repaint… Again, I’ll ask at Comic Con so stay tuned.

10
Hello my name is Andy and I'm from Livonia, MI. I have been looking for a republic gunship EVERYWHERE! But I can't seem to get my hands on one. I have a friend that works at Toys ‘R’ Us and she informed me that her computer says the product has been "discontinued…" Is this true? Or is Hasbro just holding off shipping for a later date?

Despite its scarcity, people have been finding the Gunship. I’d hesitate to say it’s been discontinued at this point; more a matter of poor or slow distribution, but something is certainly out of whack. While I was able to get one on-line, I’ve yet to see it at retail myself. From this I can only say I know they’ve shipped, but where they ended up is another story. With the Mustafar Playset and ARC-170 showing up in greater numbers there’s a chance the Gunship will surface soon. As far as the information your friend was able to look up; there have been two previous versions of this vehicle (the Saga and Clone Wars versions) it’s possible one of those turned up as discontinued.


Until next time...


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