There’s something strange in Hasbro‘s neighborhood.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products tapped Hasbro Inc. as the master toy licensee for Ghostbusters worldwide. Under the newly inked deal, the Rhode Island-based toymaker will produce new toys and collectibles inspired by the the global franchise, which first launched with the debut of the original Ghostbusters film in 1984. The new offerings will debut in time for the release of the next Ghosbusters film, which is currently in production in Canada, under the direction of filmmaker Jason Reitman — son of original Ghostbusters helmer Ivan Reitman.
“Ghostbusters is an iconic and beloved franchise and we are excited and honored to return to the brand as the global master toy licensee and bring new product to the next generation of fans,” says Tom Warner, senior vice president, Hasbro. “Drawing on Hasbro’s proprietary insights and culture of innovation, we are working closely with Sony Pictures Consumer Products to create a dynamic new toy line that we can’t wait to share with fans around the world.”
Hasbro’s history with Ghostbusters dates back to The Real Ghostbusters toy line, which was created by Kenner (acquired by Hasbro in the 1990s) and sold from 1986 to 1991. This year, Hasbro and Sony debuted the Transformers Generations Collaborative: Ghostbusters Mash-Up Ecto-1 Ectotron, which was recently reviewed in our sister publication, the Toy Insider. During Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC), the second Transformers x Ghostbusters mashup arrived in the form of the Ecto-35 — based on the classic G1 Optimus Prime. It’s all tied together with a Transformers / Ghostbusters crossover comic from IDW Publishing, launched in celebration of the brands’ dual 35th anniversary celebrations this year.
“As we build up to release our new Ghostbusters film next year, it was a natural choice to work with Hasbro to develop an all-new line of toys that not only celebrates the new film but also brings us back to the roots of the original film and toy line,” says Jamie Stevens, executive vice president, Sony Pictures Consumer Products. “Hasbro has a proven track record of working with well-known IP to make a variety of high-quality toys and figures that appeal to people of all ages and we are excited to leverage this expertise to bring new product experiences to Ghostbusters fans around the world.”
