Based on the formula that seems to have been established?  I'm thinking we'll see another Ewok pack of some sort.  And this time around I'm thinking that the army building pack seems likely to be from THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK.  We got a ROTJ pack in 2012, and ANH sets this year.  That's just a simple process of elimination.

For the Ewok set?  I'm thinking 2 x Ewoks with a large accessory again.  For 2014 I think that could mean an Ewok glider and a pair of Ewoks.  It's getting tougher to name Ewoks by name, but Wompus and Kazak are a couple that I can think of.

As for TESB packs?  Hasbro and K-Mart seem like they're on track to do more Imperials, but how do they present something fresh from TESB?  Here are some possibilities:
Imperial Blizzard Force:  General Veers (due for an update) & AT-AT Driver
Imperial Invasion Forces:  2 x SA Snowtroopers with E-WEB
Imperial Death Squadron:  Admiral Ozzel & Star Destroyer Crewman
Imperial Asteroid Field Pursuit:  Admiral Piett & TIE Bomber Pilot

And for some Rebel ideas?
Echo Base Command:  General Riekkan (due for an update) & Hoth Rebel Officer (TVC reissue/head swap)
Echo Base Defenders:  Hoth Rebel Officer & Hoth Rebel Solider (new portraits)
Rogue Squadron: Derek Hobbie Klivian (Snowspeeder pilot) & Echo Base Hangar crew

I'd definitely be up for more Ewoks.  I know it's been about 10 years since we got the last hang-glider Ewok.  And the Ewoks who sound the horns at the beginning of the counterattack against the Imperials might be cool, too.

Lost 'Return of the Jedi' footage discovered on $699 LaserDisc.

Check out the text from the article:



Buyers of a rare LaserDisc used to demonstrate an 80s-vintage film editing system have found it full of raw footage from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi, graciously posting clips to a Facebook account over the course of the past several days. Most of the clips are from Luke Skywalker's last visit to Yoda on Dagobah, but another gem features a full minute (without audio, unfortunately) of R2-D2 repairing Skywalker's damaged X-wing.
 
For the lucky buyer, $699 well spent

The origin of the LaserDisc isn't entirely clear, but it was purchased for $699 off eBay, apparently once used to demonstrate Lucasfilm's EditDroid station — one of the first digital film editing systems sold nearly 30 years ago. Ironically, George Lucas himself never used EditDroid to make a movie; the Star Wars clips were loaded simply to show off its capabilities to prospective buyers.

Lucasfilm, of course, is no stranger to fiercely protecting Star Wars copyrights, and it's reasonable to assume the disc buyer's clips may not stay online for long — particularly considering that they'd make a great addition to a future Blu-ray bundle.


The article includes some of the footage of R2-D2 making repairs on Luke's X-Wing.

Finally watched this week's episode of Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D..  It's nice to see some people with actual powers in the mix.  When I saw the previews for this week's episode I almost thought "Are they going to do a story about Sunfire?" given the pyro-kinetic powers of this particular character.  But I was a little surprised to see that they're continuing on with the Extremis plotline from the first episode of the season.

The one point in the show that was a nice nod to Marvel lore?  The two guys in firesuits who apprehend Scorch.  Sure, from a story standpoint they're wearing the suits to protect themselves.  But those suits were also a big callback to AIM in the comics.  Especially since it was AIM that was behind Extremis in Iron Man 3.

It's a good possibility that these will show up at Sears stores.  Especially since Sears seems to be doing the seasonal toy sections for the holidays as a regular thing now.

So it seems that from a business standpoint, Angry Birds Star Wars Telepods may be the future of Star Wars collecting

Hasbro Sells 1 Million 'Angry Birds Star Wars' Telepods.

This begs the question: are collectors who lived through the vintage era in touch with what works for the Hasbro Star Wars license from a sales perspective?

5 POA seems to be the way the industry is moving in an effort to bring down costs.  That, or go to the 6" scale which seems to have a greater cross-appeal with collectors who hadn't necessarily been into Star Wars.

The figure designs are going to have a tremendous impact on whether or not the 5 POA is a big deal or not.  I know that in the case of the new Saga Legends and Mission Series figures, I've been pleasantly surprised with the quality of the sculpts on those new figures.  The 5 POA is disappointing, but the high quality of the sculpting of those figures has made the limited articulation a little easier to accept.

I get the feeling we'll see a sneak peek of the first wave(s) of the Rebels line at Toy Fair.  Those figures will probably be out right before SDCC, and we'll probably see more of the line at SDCC.

The inquisitors are an EU device that dates back quite a way.  I seem to recall them being in the mix in the Dark Empire storyline.  And I think an Inquisitor also made his way into the mix with some of the online comic strips that were featured on The Official Site.  I seem to recall that some may have been Jedi that turned to the service of the New Order.  Others may have been former padawans that were sent off to the agricultural corps.