The merchandise packaging for Star Wars ‘Force Friday II’ The Last Jedi has just been revealed with Daisy Ridley, John Boyega and Oscar Isaac all feature on the cover and we are treated to a first look at a much changed Rey with her stylistic change of hair for the upcoming movie. In contrast to this, Poe and Finn appear almost identical to the characters we grew to know in ‘The Force Awakens’ (right down to the outfits that they adorn.
But the most intriguing aspect of the ‘The Last Jedi’ packaging is how it’s in direct contrast to the packaging used for ‘The Force Awakens’ with the use of the iconic image of Kylo Ren. Instead, we have the new heroes placed onto the packaging. Perhaps seen as a better marketing ploy, or maybe there is a subliminal meaning attached?
Star Wars.com
“The first Star Wars Force Friday event was truly unique, uniting fans across five continents in an unprecedented global live unboxing event ahead of thousands of midnight openings at retail,” said Jimmy Pitaro, chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media. “We’re excited to confirm that Star Wars Force Friday is back for The Last Jedi. Plans for this year’s worldwide event are top secret, but expect something befitting the excitement around the next episode of the Star Wars saga.”
Star Wars fans around the globe embraced Force Friday in 2015, with hundreds of thousands turning up to stores at midnight to be the first to get their hands on merchandise from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. Toys from the new line were revealed via a global livestream unboxing event with top Maker Studios creators that unfolded over 18 hours, 15 different cities and 12 countries, attracting millions of views on YouTube. Fans took to social media to share their experiences with nearly 3 billion Twitter impressions about the events, using #ForceFriday.
Details of how fans can participate will be revealed closer to the event, but the worldwide launch will tap new technology and Star Wars mythology to create a unique experience for fans. Just like 2015, products for The Last Jedi will be kept under wraps until Force Friday II to preserve surprises for fans. As well as introducing new characters from the movie in toy form, the line will build on the success of products like Sphero’s BB-8, introducing more innovative technology to bring the characters and stories from the film to life in unique ways.
“Toys play a unique role in the Star Wars universe, and we’re proud to have been part of that incredible legacy for the past 40 years. The new line for The Last Jedi is our most innovative yet, and we’re excited to unveil it on Force Friday II,” said Samantha Lomow, senior vice president at Hasbro.
Geek Carl 