[Black Arbor]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trivial Psychic

I think they might sniff at it when the rights come up next year, but there is no way Hasbro is letting anyone touch that puppy.

I do think though that Mattel can and will make a strong play for the Star Wars license next year. It's been one of the worst secrets in the toy industry that Hasbro is not happy with their current deal with Disney and Lucsasfilm there, and they have shown it in their marketing strategy over the past few years, as there has been less and less product of quality and note, even when there are new films to support them.

A number of retailers are also starting to shy away from Star Wars as well, citing an oversaturation of the market as well as a general fatigue in the franchise from consumers. Plus, many retailers have been reluctant to fully embrace Star Wars as of late because what was once a story about space nazis and wizards with laser swords has become a hotbed of devisive topics ranging from feminism to representation...and that's before the SJWs start cooking up whatever they can think of.

While Star Wars will still drive a high price no doubt, it's lost a little bit of its value, as well as it's vice like grip, in the action toys industry. I can easily see Mattel overpaying for the license while feeling like it's a victory...which is the kind of move that many struggling companies and franchises make hoping to make a splash and give themselves a shot in the arm. Hopefully it won't do them in during the long run.

On the topic of toy likeness, I think metal has been doing a lot better as of late. Outside of Mara, the Aquaman line has some pretty strong likenesses, and they are now incorporating the digital face printing technology that Hasbro uses on their own WWE Elite lines. Some of them are drop dead spot on, especially the recent Walmart exclusive AJ Styles and Carmella, as well as the recent Elite Shinsuke Nakamura. The upcoming Ultimate Rhonda Rousey looks fantastic as well, and what Mattel is doing with this technology can very easily hold water to anything that Hasbro is doing with Black Series or Legends.

I think they need to shelve SW for a while, the same way Kenner did back in the mid 80's, once they brought it back as PotF people were falling all over themselves trying to buy 'roided out Lando and monkey face Leia. That's another reason why I think Disney is mishandling Star Wars, it's just not a yearly installment kind of movie (as much as I dislike the prequels, at least Lucas told his story and stopped there instead of doing interquels and spinoffs and more prequels haha)