EctroTron

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 InsiderDuring 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.”

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.

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