Shadow Trooper Helmet LE now limited to 500 pieces

[Karma]

From a MR rep

With regards to the Shadow Trooper CS exclusive, Lucas strongly recommended that we up the edition size of it. With that being said, we are now looking at an edition size of 500, ordered through the regular process. We have had many complaints about the size and the lottery process so we are going to go by Lucas' request.

Please know that this was not a decision we made after the announcement yesterday, it has been being worked on since the announcement. That is why we haven't put it on sale yet.

 

[IrishJedi]

Meh.

Would rather a Jango helmet or an AOTC Clone over yet another gimmicky "look! It's a black stormtrooper!" product.

 

[dekadentdave]

Sad to think we will never see a Jango Helmet to go with those super f'n cool blasters. My collection will never be complete.

 

[Prime Clone]

Anyone else thinkin' MR pulling out of Celebration IV is a case of sour grapes? Or am I reading too much into it?

 

[dekadentdave]

Anyone else thinkin' MR pulling out of Celebration IV is a case of sour grapes? Or am I reading too much into it?

No, that's exactly what it is. You can consider the split with Luca$$film a divorce.

 

[SolidLiquidFox]

Yeah...they'll do the party but no booth at the show. It's pretty clear that they are sending a message. That party looks to be a gathering of fans with a huge chip on their shoulders given the circumstances.

"Party" indeed. :emperor

 

[dekadentdave]

Hasbro is sending a message too. They just bought back all of LFL's shares of their company stock which amounted to 10% shareholder stake in Hasbro to skim revenue of Star Wars toys. We are seeing something of a Separatist blockade of the Trade Federation happening before C4.

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE: HAS) announced today that it has exercised its call option to repurchase all of the outstanding warrants for Hasbro’s common stock currently held by Lucasfilm Ltd. and Lucas Licensing Ltd. (together “Lucas”).Lucas holds exercisable warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase an aggregate of 15,750,000 shares of Hasbro’s common stock. The call notice to Lucas stated that Hasbro is exercising its call option to repurchase all of the Warrants for $200 million in cash. Upon closing of the call option Lucas will not hold any warrants to purchase shares of Hasbro’s common stock. Hasbro anticipates closing the call option on May 24, 2007. In connection with the repurchase, Hasbro will recognize a final mark to market charge related to these warrants totaling approximately $36.5 million during the 2nd quarter of 2007.
Pursuant to the Warrant Amendment Agreement, entered into between Hasbro and Lucas in January of 2003, Hasbro was given a call option which provided that at any time through October 13, 2016, Hasbro could repurchase all of the Warrants from Lucas for a payment, in Hasbro’s choice, of either (i) $200 million in cash or (ii) $220 million worth of Hasbro’s common stock, such stock being valued in the manner set forth in the Warrant Amendment Agreement.

 

[user 1190]

Anyone else thinkin' MR pulling out of Celebration IV is a case of sour grapes? Or am I reading too much into it?

I would say yes and no. Part of it is whats the point of spending all that money time effort to do a booth when they don't really have anything left. Yes they could show the few products they have coming but for what the whole 10 months they have left to sell products? But on the other side I would be like screw you Lucas were no coming, find someone else to get money from.

 

[IrishJedi]

Hasbro is sending a message too. They just bought back all of LFL's shares of their company stock which amounted to 10% shareholder stake in Hasbro to skim revenue of Star Wars toys. We are seeing something of a Separatist blockade of the Trade Federation happening before C4.

Somehow, I doubt a sudden infusion of $200 million in cash in LFL's coffers (plus the fact that the Hasbro license is set until 2018) is going to cause anyone at Skywalker Ranch to lose any sleep.

What is notable, however, is that the Gentle Giant and Sideshow licenses were also set to expire on 12/31. Has anyone heard whether or either has renewed yet?

In any case, Lucasfilm isn't in any real danger. No new movies and declining market share or no, STAR WARS is still STAR WARS... and there will always be other companies out there willing to dip into the pool and get a piece of that pie. As long as LFL keeps The Machine greased and moving (which looks to be the case with the new animated series, TV Show, games, etc) you're going to be typing $tar War$ for a long, long time to come.

I must say, the timing of these announcements (just days before the Convention and the official 30th Anniversary) is pretty curious.

 

[dekadentdave]

Hasbro is pushing them out as a shareholder so they can't skim the profit. They would have made considerably more than $200 million in long-term profits. This is only a short term gain for them and that's going to hit them with a capital gains tax.

Personally I have no interest in the TV shows or EU stuff and I have been seeing a drastic decline in Hasbro sales at retail compared to the Prequel era. Luca$$film will try to keep the money machine going indefinitely but they are going to squeeze the fans by forcing them to pay higher premiums as I have already seen by the drastic increase in the price of $tar War$ toys. I'm glad I've pretty much stopped collecting Hasbro and just get a few vintage things here and there. The rest of their stuff is just repaints of what we already have so I have no interest anymore. Luca$$film is shooting themselves in the foot and as a lifelong fan I am finally distancing myself from a lot of it and it feels pretty good. I didn't realize how much the addiction was overtaking my life until I started to say NO.

 

[IrishJedi]

I too stopped collecting Hasbro stuff LONG ago... with a few exceptions (the vintage stuff and the new McQuarrie concept figures, which I love).

 

[Prime Clone]

The frustrating thing for me was, the quality of the Hasbro figures improved dramatically after I stopped collecting them. I wish I could swap my existing figures for some of the newer ones.

 

[nash]

Personally I think this was a bad move to up the edition size. I expect these to shelf warm or be easy to get for close to retail. just like the other clone helmets.

 

[Karma]

PICS!!!!

Leather Interior Lining

 

[user 1190]

Karma who are you there or are you just lurking?

 

[user 1190]

more

 

[nash]

im lazy to check, but what was the edition size for the normal stormy helmet?

 

[IrishJedi]

im lazy to check, but what was the edition size for the normal stormy helmet?

2500.

I will get one when they discount them after 1/1.

 

[nash]

2500.

I will get one when they discount them after 1/1.

yeah i had the same idea hehe.

 

[SolidLiquidFox]

Tentative release schedule subject to change:

Mara Jade - On sale to CS members 6-13, general public 6-14

Shadow Trooper Helmet - Same as Mara Jade

Luke V2 - On sale to CS members 6/27, general public 6/28

Boba Fett Helmet SE and LE - on sale to CS members 8/1, general public 8/2