A new HT line based on real people?

[galactiboy]

Wow, I'm good with them going in this direction. It will be great to finally see some top quality figures of these actors! Definitely fingers crossed for a Clint figure.

And I wonder if its "real people" that maybe they are paying for the likeness rights, but will go for a look thats close to a film role, but doesn't claim to be film related. Maybe safe a few dollars on fees that way?

 

[fistfulmetal]

If its true that they are doing famous actors, then I hope Clint Eastwood and many other 60's actors will be made.

 

[Darklord Dave]

Eastwood is unlikely and probably impossible. I'm sure this line will be other heavily licensed dead people like Dean. Brando comes to mind as well as the ones I previously mentioned.

 

[pixletwin]

I didn't know he was also an A-Gentleman?

You must not know much about Dean. Where Shai gives it to the Y, Dean gave it to the X, if you follow my meaning.

 

[pixletwin]

By the way, I hope this opens doors for some great Elvis or Buddy Holly figures. That would be too good to be true.

 

[galactiboy]

Yeah, a 1/6 Elvis would be the ****... still hoping for the Gold suit

 

[Voorhees27]

Yeah, a 1/6 Elvis would be the ****... still hoping for the Gold suit

I would absolutely LOVE an Elvis Presley! Thank Ya, Thank Ya very much!

 

[Mudshark]

Eastwood is unlikely and probably impossible. I'm sure this line will be other heavily licensed dead people like Dean. Brando comes to mind as well as the ones I previously mentioned.

That Japanese article gives the impression that these will be figures from the 1950s. Loosely translated, it says "America's Springtime - the 1950s is reborn". Sounds like it's just in reference to the James Dean figure and not the entire line, though. Deceased celebrities like Brando and Elvis are probable considerations. John Wayne could also be a likely candidate. I wonder if they're planning to make any female stars...

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

as good as their headsculpts are ,maybe they'll do a bruce lee that will rival Enterbay.

You read my mind. I've been hoping for an HT Bruce, the Enterbays a little pricey for me.

 

[Darklord Dave]

The '50s would fit Brando, Monroe, Elvis, Wayne as well. It's a possible that's the whole line.

 

[gdb]

I can't pick up a whole new Hot Toys line, but the names thrown around should would class up a collection.

 

[wookster]

Wow, I hope thats for real it looks freakin great.
I reviewed the old HT, Eric So one about three or four years ago-

https://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_112904b.htm

At the time it was pretty amazing, but my how things move on. I did say at the time that someone should give us some classic Hollywood stars, maybe it's happening!

Here's my old Toys McCoy Marilyn as well for good measure-

https://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_110304b.htm

 

[Mudshark]

Wow, I hope thats for real it looks freakin great.
I reviewed the old HT, Eric So one about three or four years ago-

https://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_112904b.htm

At the time it was pretty amazing, but my how things move on. I did say at the time that someone should give us some classic Hollywood stars, maybe it's happening!

Here's my old Toys McCoy Marilyn as well for good measure-

https://www.mwctoys.com/REVIEW_110304b.htm

Toys McCoy was on a roll there for a while, especially with all the Steve McQueen characters! They were all pretty cool figures, but suffered from the clunky Hasbro bodies of the day, unfortunately. ROTLA Indy Jones was arguably the best figure they ever did, and Ichiro Suzuki of the Orix Blue Wave, commemorating his being the Pacific League batting champion several years in a row, (before he joined the Mariners.... as a "rookie"...heh.) Pretty nice figure of Ichiro, and like Indy, he had the newer G.I. Joe body.

It will be very interesting to see what Hot Toys has to offer in the way of "real people". I'm still wondering if they'll do any female celebs... if so, I wouldn't be surprised if Marilyn was one of 'em.

 

[Captain Britain]

Yeah, what is/ was Toys McCoy, a toy company or a motorcycle company that did toys as a side line? I could never get to grips with their website, obviously, as it was in Japanese. The ROTLA Indy is still my favourite action figure ever.

 

[Michael Crawford]

Come on Michael. (I don't think I've ever disagreed with you before) but there is an entire world outside of the US of A that loves soccer and wouldn't know a superbowl from a soup bowl!!!
Having said that I don't think I'd want a 12"Beckham either. We'll leave Victoria to dream about that.

i am being facetious by the way, I know what you mean about the uniforms and all my son's 12" soccer players (Revell kickomatic???) have horrid knee joints showing etc.

It's not about the sports, it's about the uniforms. A guy in shorts isn't nearly as visually interesting as the uniforms in American football or hockey. Make a great looking goalie and I wouldn't care who it was, because I'd be buying it just for the equipment.

 

[Michael Crawford]

But this is a figure of a character played by James Dean, isn't it? Real people made me think more of people like Kennedy or Nelson Mandela or something.

If that's the case I'd like to see Todd Beamer and Rick Rescorla as the first real people in the line.

Yea, I'd love to see a line based on movie characters from the 50's, but it does seem odd that they said 'real' people. Then again, maybe it's just lost in the translation

 

[The Mike]

But this is a figure of a character played by James Dean, isn't it? Real people made me think more of people like Kennedy or Nelson Mandela or something.

It all depends on how you market them. If you are only licensed for the character itself then it'd be marketed as: Jett Rink (Dean's character in Giant).

Mattel used to have the Lucille Ball dolls that were dressed in "I Love Lucy" outfits but were always marketed as Lucille Ball as Lucy Ricardo....I'm assuming that this line will have to deal with celebrities where they had to go through their estates and get licensing rights because the studios didn't have them.

Essentially it might be a figure from Giant then East of Eden then Rebel Without a Cause but you'd have to get the James Dean official licensing rights before you can do them.

I expect more characters like that who their licensing had to be obtained though estates like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis, John Wayne, etc. They are indeed making a figure of the person just in their personas....

 

[Michael Crawford]

But that means they have to get the rights from both the actor AND the studio in most cases. I'm not saying they won't do that, but getting the rights to the actor's likeness isn't enough when doing something actually based on a particular character in a particular movie.

The one way they could *try* to get around that would be to not name the character or film. The studio *might* not scream bloody murder.

 

[galactiboy]

Thats kinda what I'm thinking they might do, pick an outfit that is similar to a role but never say the name of the film or character. Maybe that way they can get away with only paying for the individuals likeness.

 

[TheObsoleteMan]

But that means they have to get the rights from both the actor AND the studio in most cases. I'm not saying they won't do that, but getting the rights to the actor's likeness isn't enough when doing something actually based on a particular character in a particular movie.

That's exactly what Sideshow does with John Wayne. They've made figures of Sgt. Stryker from Sands of Iwo Jima, Col. Kirby from The Green Berets, Nathan Brittles from She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and a Rooster Cogburn PF, but they never make mention of the character's name or the movie on the packaging or in the product decription.