Hasbro Updates a Kenner Classic for 'The Mandalorian'

One of the most famous Star Wars vehicles to never appear in the original trilogy is back in action.

During the original Star Wars craze, the Kenner toy line that ran from 1978 to 1985 was known for including some weapons and vehicles that were never seen on screen, but had been specifically developed as toys that kids could use to extend the adventure at home. The Kenner team in Cincinnati developed a bunch of original creations, one of which was the Star Wars Imperial Troop Transporter.

Following an animated debut in Star Wars Rebels that brought the vehicle into the official Star Wars canon a few years back, the vehicle entered the first live-action series during the season-ending cliffhanger of The Mandalorian on Disney+, more than 40 years after the toy first hit shelves.

Ahead of Toy Fair New York, Hasbro introduces the most detailed version of the vehicle yet as a new addition to its 3.75-inch scale Star Wars: The Vintage Collection lineup. The updated transport includes a removable roof, opening doors, fold-down seating, a swiveling turret, and blaster storage.

The Vintage Collection Imperial Troop Transport is available for preorder at Entertainment Earth, Amazon, and other retailers now.

About the author

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.

Hasbro Updates a Kenner Classic for ‘The Mandalorian’

About the author

James Zahn