Disney Consumer Products launched its Toy Fair festivities Thursday, Feb. 12, with its Star Wars Most Wanted Spring Preview.
The event kicked off with a fireside chat featuring Bobby Kim, vice president of creative at Disney Consumer Products, and Jon Favreau, executive producer and showrunner of The Mandalorian and producer on The Mandalorian & Grogu, which arrives in theaters Memorial Day weekend. During the discussion, Favreau discussed the impact that Star Wars toys have had on him and his career.
“Star Wars is linked to the toys,” Favreau says. “You would see it in the theater, and then you and your friends would get the toys, and you’d play. That was how the story would continue, acting it out again and again. That’s why in The Mandalorian, we tried to reference the toys.”
Favreau promised that the trend of paying homage to iconic Star Wars toys would continue into The Mandalorian & Grogu.
“There are a few nods to the old toys that were never on screen, but for people who grew up with it, it’s sort of a deep cut,” Favreau says. “That’s part of embracing Star Wars, not just from the film side, but also Star Wars culture and the fan culture around Star Wars, and toys are a huge part of that.”
Guests also got their first looks at new toys coming out ahead of The Mandalorian & Grogu’s theatrical release. Disney Consumer Products is partnering with Hasbro, Jazwares, Pop Mart, and other top merch makers to bring innovative product to shelves for the first Star Wars movie since Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Source: Bandai Namco Toys & Collectibles America
Source: Disney Store
Source: Funko
Furby Furblets Grogu. | Source: Hasbro
Source: Hasbro
Source: Hot Toys
Disney Consumer Products is Source: Jazwares
Source: Just Play
Source: The LEGO Group
Source: Pop Mart
Some highlights on display included the Furby Furblets Grogu from Hasbro, which will be available this spring for $14.99; the Star Wars Doorables Grogu Collector Capsule from Just Play, which will be available soon for $9.99; Grogu Tiny But Mighty Series Figures from Pop Mart will be available starting March 13; and much more across apparel, accessories, collectibles, and toys.
The event also kicked off Disney Consumer Products’ “Star Wars Most Wanted” campaign, which focuses on continuing the story after the movie or series ends and bringing some of the most-requested merch to fans.
“We’ve realized that there are fans of all ages of Star Wars, so we’ve gone into some categories maybe that we haven’t in the past,” says Rob Michaelis, Vice President for North America Brand Commercialization at Disney Consumer Products. “We’ve listened to the consumers, and we’ve listened to insights. Throughout the year, you’ll see products from apparel, accessories and footwear, toys, home, and stationery.”
The Star Wars Most Wanted campaign will continue throughout the year. To stay up-to-date on all of Disney’s Star Wars merch launches, visit disneystore.com.
