StarWars.com posted info for the upcoming Force Friday II, which will usher in all the new toys and merchandise for “The Last Jedi,” on September 1st, 2017. Along with the news, we got our first look at the packaging for the merchandise. New images of Poe Dameron, Rey, and Finn are found on the box. Rey has an interesting new hairstyle. Something else of note is that the reflection of the logo on the packaging reads “Star Wars Episode VIII” instead of “Star Wars The Last Jedi.” Thanks to Star Wars Junk for pointing it out. Check out the reflection after the jump and get more information on Force Friday II.
Attention, “Star Wars” fans: It’s time to make some room on your desk, toy shelf, bookshelf, and in your closet.
Disney and Lucasfilm today announced “Star Wars” Force Friday II, a global fan event celebrating the launch of “Star Wars: The Last Jedi” products. Toys, collectibles, books, apparel, and more will go on sale beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Friday, September 1, 2017, with stores around the world opening for a weekend-long celebration of all things “Star Wars.” In addition, packaging for the new line, featuring striking images of a lightsaber-wielding Rey, Poe Dameron, and Finn, was also revealed today and can be seen below.
“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.
Jill Wilfert, vice president of global licensing and entertainment from The LEGO Group commented, “It was so much fun to be a part of ‘Star Wars’ Force Friday, and we can’t wait for fans to join this year’s celebration as we reveal new ‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ products during Force Friday II — a global event that will connect fans and families, and allow them to build, create and share their experiences with others.”
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.
Stay tuned to StarWars.com for more on Force Friday II!