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Star Wars Celebration: Black Series Reveals Including Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary

Updated: Apr 10, 2023



The Star Wars Hasbro panel at Star Wars Celebration saw the Hasbro team reveal a number of new products with a focus on the Return of the Jedi 40th Anniversary.


Coming in the Autumn of 2023 will be a 3rd wave of Return of the Jedi Vintage Carded figures including R2-D2, Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Emperors Royal Guard. These had all been previously announced as in development (pipeline) but at SWCE we got to see them in all their glory. R2-D2 is a new better scaled Astromech sculpt and includes his various attachments and a new feature allowing the dome to be raised up as seen in an exploded view of R2 in one of the coffee table art books for Star Wars. This internal section can also be used to store the accessories. Darth Vader and Luke are retooled vs the original figures with Vadar coming with a removable two-piece helmet while Luke has a swappable chest section like the original. The Royal Guard is also tweaked and the soft goods robe can now be removed.



There will also be two Deluxe releases for the 40th Anniversary of Return of the Jedi. The first is a repack of the Jabba the Hutt 2014 SDCC exclusive. This features Jabba, Salacious Crumb, and the Hookah and rail - but sadly not the Throne itself. It comes in a Vintage Kenner-inspired box.


Also arriving in a Kenner 3-pack-inspired box is a Force Ghosts set featuring Yoda, Obi-Wan, and Hayden Christenson's Anakin Skywalker. Obi-Wan is a re-release but comes with photo-real updates. Yoda is now true to scale so it uses the newer smaller sculpt. Anakin is a brand-new figure. Sadly, the pack will NOT include the Ewok village walkway bridge piece used in the promo images. Each figure is individually carded but then packed into the Multi-pack box. Jabba is an Aitumn 2023 release, while the Force Ghosts are arriving a little earlier in the Summer. Both of these are exclusive to Hasbro Pulse and Shop Disney.



The other Black Series reveal was another previously confirmed pipeline figure, Cad Bane, as seen in The Book of Boba Fett. He will be another Spring 2024 release alongside the other recently announced BOBF figures like the Pyke Soldier & Tusken Chieftain. There was also a roleplay helmet reveal of the Ahsoka 332nd Clone Trooper helmet which arrives in the Autumn.


These new releases are live for pre-order as of the 11th of April 2023.



Hasbro did provide some future information with their usual pipeline reveals. Joining Gaming Greats, and exclusive to Gamestop in the US, is a Battlefront 2 'Battle Damaged'General Grievous. We have two Obi-Wan Kenobi Disney+ Series figures heading to Walmart with Obi-Wan himself and a Qui-Gon Jinn Force Ghost. Also from Kenobi, but exclusive to Target, is a 'Final Battle' Darth Vader and a Commander Appo. The only general release is a Clone Wars Pre Vizsla.



It also looks like a 3rd wave of Holiday Special figures are incoming. Based on the artwork used to tease these we can look forward to a Mandalorian, Jawa, Ewok, Imperial K2 Droid, Purge Trooper, and a Snowtrooper


 


STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES CAD BANE

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99 / Available: Spring 2024)


STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium 6-inch STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES CAD BANE figure, inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: THE BOOK OF BOBA FETT live-action series. Renowned bounty hunter Cad Bane was known for his impressive arsenal of weapons and allies. His work with the Pyke Syndicate on Tatooine led him face-to-face with Boba Fett. Fans and collectors can display this fully articulated figure featuring premium detail and multiple points of articulation in their collection. Includes figure and 2 series-inspired accessories. Available for pre-order 4/11 at 1 pm ET at Hasbro Pulse and most major retailers.


STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES JABBA THE HUTT & SALACIOUS B. CRUMB

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $89.99 / Available: Fall 2023)


Jabba the Hutt was one of the galaxy’s most powerful gangsters, with far-reaching influence in both politics and the criminal underworld. Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI with this STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES JABBA THE HUTT & SALACIOUS B. two-pack, featuring classic design and packaging! These premium 6-inch-scale figures are inspired by the characters’ appearances in Jabba the Hutt’s throne room in STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI. Fans can display this figure which features premium detail, multiple points of articulation in their collections. Includes 2 figures, railing and pipe entertainment-inspired accessories.

Available for pre-order 4/11 at 1 pm ET exclusively at Hasbro Pulse and Shop Disney.


STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES FORCE SPIRITS

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $77.99 / Available: Summer 2023)


Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI with this STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES FORCE SPIRITS three-pack, featuring classic design and packaging! These premium 6-inch-scale figures are inspired by the iconic moment in STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI, when Luke Skywalker witnesses the Force Spirits of the people who shaped him: Anakin, Obi-Wan, and Yoda. Fans can display this figure which features premium detail, multiple points of articulation in their collections. Includes 3 figures.

Available for pre-order 4/11 at 1 pm ET exclusively at Hasbro Pulse and Shop Disney.


STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES ARTOO-DETOO (R2D2)

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99 / Available: Fall 2023)

Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI with this STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES ARTOO-DETOO (R2D2) figure, featuring classic design and packaging! This premium 6-inch Artoo-Detoo (R2D2) figure is inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI. Fans can display this figure which features premium detail, multiple points of articulation and periscope, antenna and arm accessories, in their collections. Includes figure and 6 entertainment-inspired accessories.

Available for pre-order 4/11 at 1 pm ET at Hasbro Pulse and most major retailers.


STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES LUKE SKYWALKER (JEDI KNIGHT)

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99 / Available: Fall 2023)


Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI with this STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES LUKE SKYWALKER (JEDI KNIGHT) figure, featuring classic design and packaging! This premium 6-inch Luke Skywalker figure is inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI. Fans can display this figure which features premium detail, multiple points of articulation and Lightsaber accessory, in their collections. Includes figure and 2 entertainment-inspired accessories. Available for pre-order 4/11 at 1 pm ET at Hasbro Pulse and most major retailers.


STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES DARTH VADER

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99 / Available: Fall 2023)


Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI with this STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES DARTH VADER figure, featuring classic design and packaging! This premium 6-inch Darth Vader figure is inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI. Fans can display this figure which features premium detail, multiple points of articulation and Lightsaber accessory, in their collections. Includes figure and 4 entertainment-inspired accessories.

Available for pre-order 4/11 at 1 pm ET at Hasbro Pulse and most major retailers.


STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES EMPEROR’S ROYAL GUARD

(HASBRO/Ages 4 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $24.99 / Available: Fall 2023)


Commemorate the 40th Anniversary of STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI with this STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES EMPEROR’S ROYAL GUARD figure, featuring classic design and packaging! This premium 6-inch Emperor’s Royal Guard figure is inspired by the character’s appearance in STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI. Fans can display this figure which features premium detail, multiple points of articulation and staff accessory, in their collections. Includes figure and 2 entertainment-inspired accessories.

Available for pre-order 4/11 at 1 pm ET at Hasbro Pulse and most major retailers.



STAR WARS: THE BLACK SERIES AHSOKA’S CLONE TROOPER PREMIUM ELECTRONIC HELMET

(HASBRO/Ages 14 years & up/Approx. Retail Price: $131.99/Available: Fall 2023)


During the Clone Wars, Ahsoka Tano asked the Jedi to help a besieged Mandalore. Though little Republic support could be spared, a 501st Clone Trooper division pledged their loyalty to Ahsoka, demonstrated by their repainted helmets. STAR WARS fans and collectors can imagine scenes from the biggest battles and missions in the STAR WARS galaxy with this premium roleplay, AHSOKA’S CLONE TROOPER PREMIUM ELECTRONIC HELMET, inspired by STAR WARS: THE CLONE WARS. Features premium deco, realistic detail, series-inspired design and electronic voice distortion so fans and collectors can have their voice to sound just like a Clone Trooper.Available for pre-order 4/11 at 1pm ET at Amazon and additional fan channel retailers. [Requires 3x AAA batteries – not included]


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About Me : As a child of the '70s and '80s I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force), and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licenses - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who, and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK-focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...

 

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