While Comic-Con 2024 was a letdown for new product reveals, there may be something new on the horizon for MGS fans.
Before SDCC, we spoke with a verified licensing executive, different from our previous source. They are intimately involved in Lucasfilm licensing, and they have us given the greenlight to publish this article.
New Star Wars TV Series
“There will be a new Disney+ show, to be announced very soon.
What makes this show different is that it marks the first Star Wars live-action series that includes the children’s demographic. Unlike Disney’s adult-oriented shows like Andor, The Mandalorian, and The Acolyte, this one is aimed at both young viewers as well as adult fans.”
“In fact we in the industry are calling it Star Wars lite, since it requires little in the way of lore knowledge to appreciate. Unlike Ahsoka for example, first-time viewers will be able to watch it without knowing anything about Star Wars.”
A New Ship
“One of the cornerstones of this series is a brand new hero ship.
Unlike Disney’s other shows, the cast will spend the majority of their time on this key ship, making it as much as an aspect of the show as the characters themselves.”
What can you tell us about the ship?
“It’s pretty sizable. From a licensing perspective, this vehicle will be a quite substantial toy. Unlike the protagonist duo of The Mandalorian who can fit in a fighter, the new show has a hero crew, all of whom reside on this big ship.”
“As such, in addition to the cockpit, there are laser turrets, crew quarters and even a cargo bay.”
“While not as complex as the rotating wings of Ahsoka’s Jedi shuttle, it also has several moving elements. In fact, among licensed Star Wars toy vehicles, it may have the most moving parts of any ship to date.”
Toy Production
“At least one licensed vendor already has a production version of the ship, ready to launch for the holidays.”
“However, the Master Toy Licensee that holds the rights to the 3.75″ figure vehicles may take a while to ramp up, due to the big size of the ship. It’s possible they may produce it in a smaller, less accurate scale for their other toylines instead of the main 3.75″ line.”
What about Jazwares?
“I have no affiliation with the company so I can’t definitively say if they will be producing this ship. But note that:
- There are only a handful of toy licensees for Star Wars, each with their own scale or speciality
- Jazwares’ Micro Galaxy Squadron license is specifically for “small-scale vehicles”, so this is exactly their line.
- The ship is as much a part of the show as the main characters themselves, so it’s considered a high priority among license holders.
- As this is Disney’s first live-action series directed at kids as well as adults, there is a concerted push from Disney and Lucasfilm for licensees to produce the ship.
“As a matter of fact, I would be surprised if this vehicle is not already included in Jazwares’ plans.
Licensees are typically afforded an early preview of upcoming shows and their release timeline. This show has already wrapped up production fairly long ago, and has had a delayed release. So Jazwares’ Star Wars liason team have probably seen it, and incorporated it into their wave installment.”
“From a toy brand perspective, this also allows the company to go upmarket by producing a fairly large vehicle with a multi-character pack. While more expensive than regular ships, there is a higher chance of selling these big products when they are tied to a recent show release.”
“For Jazwares, perhaps the question is when we will see this product, and not if.”
When will we know more?
“With the end of The Acolyte, Disney will ramp up marketing towards the new series.
Expect Disney to announce the show shortly AFTER Comic-Con. The show itself is scheduled to be released before the end of this year. Once Disney and LFL officially unveil the show, the licensed merch will follow very, very soon, perhaps even before the first episode airs.”
“Please hold off publishing this piece until the end of July, just before the show is set to be revealed.”
Editor’s note:
Interview has been published as-is, save for grammatical edits and brevity.
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