Should Hot Toys be making figures without the actor likeness rights?

[Captain Britain]

Until the Edward Scissorhands figure came along I had no idea Hot Toys made figures based on specific licenses when they didn't have the image likeness rights. Should they be doing it? My feelings are really divided about this - on the one hand, I say no, because an accurate likeness is one of the most important things to me about any figure. On the other hand, I love the 2 in 1 Hot Toys Superman - best Superman figure ever, even if it looks nothing like Brandon Routh.

But Scissorhands just leaves me cold because the Depp likeness isn't there. I guess it depends on the individual character - if they did a Nolan Batman with a likeness that wasn't Bale's it wouldn't bother me, 'cause although I like Bale's performance it's not up there for me with the greatest performances ever. But if they did a Reeve Superman where the likeness was only a partial resemblance then that would piss me off.

It's not like they charge any less where they haven't managed to get the likeness rights, which is perhaps the real issue - they should, shouldn't they?

 

[darren1228]

Hot Toys did have permission to use Brandon Routh's likeness. I definitely can see Brandon Routh in the sculpt.

As for Hot Toys making figures without the actor's likeness rights sometimes it is completely out of their control. If the actor demands too much money or simply doesn't want to have a figure made of themselves what can Hot Toys do? Of course it would be great if every figure had an accurate likeness but not everyone cares about it. The Aliens Marines didn't have a good likeness and sold pretty well. The Alien Kane figure is sold out on the Sideshow website as well.

I don't have a problem with Hot Toys charging the regular price for a figure without accurate likeness. Aren't you forgetting about the fees Hot Toys is paying the movie company to produce the Edward Scissorhands figure?

My beef with Hot Toys is selling a product without telling us if the likeness will be there or not. It turned out great with the Dallas figure but ended up horribly with the Kane figure (the mustache debacle). At least Hot Toys is telling us right from the start that they couldn't acquire Depp's likeness. They are also showing us clear shots of the head which they didn't do for the Dallas/Kane figures.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

I think you had it right when you said it depends on the figure. If there's a slim chance that they'll ever get the rights then I say go for it. I'd rather have the figure and maybe pick up a custom sculpt later than not have it at all.

 

[DARK-SIDE]

1st figure without actor likeness
2nd figure with actor likeness
……
you will pay for it twice

 

[galactiboy]

I agree it depends... with Edward I'm less bothered as the whole of the figure still looks about right and even the sculpt is close enough to not be overly distracting. But with Kane it was just terrible and on top of that we never saw the sculpt until the very end.

But in general I'd rather have a kickass figure with an off sculpt and just wait for someone to come-up with a better custom one then to have to try and get a complete figure made from scratch.


my first HT figure was the "Famous Type" figure that looked suspiciously like Neo from the Matrix.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

Kane is really the only figure they've had to do that on too isn't it?

 

[darren1228]

Kane is really the only figure they've had to do that on too isn't it?

Yup. I believe Kane is the only one so far. Let's hope it is also the last one.

 

[galactiboy]

Kane is really the only figure they've had to do that on too isn't it?

Do you mean alter at the last minute, or alter out of the gates? I do think he is the only one I remember having his likeness obscured until he was close to shipping.

 

[DarkArtist81]

Hudson was another that was iffy until later, same with Drake. But it's been a long time since HT botched a sculpt, Kane was a return to old school HT.

I like the HT Edward sculpt, minus the hair... I honestly think that with work, one can make a badass figure with it. The rest of him is perfect.

 

[pixletwin]

Doesn't bug me one way or another as long as they continue to kick butt!

 

[galactiboy]

Also I really can't imagine anyway one could the Edward figure on your own... the amount of work and little details is staggering.

 

[Cocoboloboy]

Do you mean alter at the last minute, or alter out of the gates? I do think he is the only one I remember having his likeness obscured until he was close to shipping.

At the last minute.
I've just seen some comments regarding HT claiming they've done this a lot or have a habit of doing it which I think is totally wrong. As far as from proto to production is concerned if anything HT improves.

 

[galactiboy]

Yeah, Kane is the only last minute change I can think of. I think all the other oddities (like redhead Ripley and moustach Drake) were known from the get-go.

I agree, I think as long as they are up front about it I don't really care. Some characters I'd rather just have a figure of with an off sculpt rather than no figure at all. And Edward is a definite case of that

 

[darren1228]

I agree, I think as long as they are up front about it I don't really care. Some characters I'd rather just have a figure of with an off sculpt rather than no figure at all. And Edward is a definite case of that

I second that. The important thing is to be upfront about it. Providing obscure photos and slapping a mustache on at the last minute is a big no no

 

[Cocoboloboy]

All those purposeful Aliens mistakes were easily corrected with paint too so all the more reason HT should have the go ahead for making figures even without the likeness rights.

 

[Voorhees27]

I don't know if it has been mentioned already but giving the soon to be released new Predator 1 line, it was known that Hot Toys had the "rights" to make the characters of the film but not the actual "Likeness" rights of the actors. If a company like Fox is o.k. to apporve such work then why should it be an issue with Hot Toys?

 

[fanboyz]

I going to wait until Edward comes out. Who knows, maybe they will slap a beard on Edward due to likeness issues.

 

[galactiboy]

All those purposeful Aliens mistakes were easily corrected with paint too so all the more reason HT should have the go ahead for making figures even without the likeness rights.

Very true, I wonder if there was something specific about John Hurt's likeness that was sketchy. Possibly he threatened a law suit or something of that nature which necessetated a completely innacurate sculpt.

 

[galactiboy]

I going to wait until Edward comes out. Who knows, maybe they will slap a beard on Edward due to likeness issues.

I think the sculpt we see is the sculpt we'll get... Kane was obscured leading up to the final reveal. Whereas Edward is being shown clearly.

 

[sladesuperagent]

Depends on the figure completely. Some sculpts don't need more than a hint of the actor to make it look good, but still can pull off the overall character (Apollo Creed, Ripley once repainted) and others can be so laking of any likeness they ruin the figure (Apone, Hudson). I think Depp is there in the headsculpt just enough to make it work and the OVERALL figure looks kewl, so I'm really not bummed about lack of Depp or his enormous Jay Leno chin. But with Kane, the stache made it an automatic pass on a figure I otherwise would have bought hands down. Now I just hafta wait for a decent John Hurt head.