I love these guys, but I hope it doesn't go on for too many more series. One big question mark I have is if they will ever do new versions of any of the more exclusive stuff. Particularly, the early bird set. I would love to get a chewie, and a leia in white robes, but don't want to try hunting down/spending cash on the early bird set.
There is still a lot that they can do, but as mentioned, most of the core characters have already been done.
My guess is they won't, if only because they seem to understand their market a bit better than most manufacturers do. I think in toys with solid secondary market buzz (read ebay), re-releasing previously hard to find figures only serves to infuriate the buyers from the secondary market and that in turn puts a dent in the primary sales. The expectation becomes that whatever is pricey will become available again easily. McFarlane seems to be the master of this. At the same time I can certainly see the disappointment if they don't do it. The only way to get a Luke farmboy Kubrick is by spending $60+
I think the chase for series 5 will be:
Blue snag/red snag box
Yoda with snake (orange/brown - HK/Japan variant?)
Bespin Leia from slave Leia box. I think Boushh is great, but will be a regular figure down the road.
Luke with blue/green saber instead of the Yoda snake variation.
As for series 6, I think the
Royal Guard is a leading contender. They seem to like and acknowledge army builders. I'm a little worried they might drift into prequels though and have a blue senate security for a chase figure. I much prefer Jeff's suggestion of an imperial dignitary. It could even be carried further to have an HK/Japan split with two versions of dignitaries, or a split like the Han/Luke stormtrooper chase figures.
I also like Jeff's suggestions of
Walrusman and
Hammerhead given they are among the first 20/21 vintage figures, so they're a pretty natural fit.
I think the
Death Squad Commander is a better bet than a
Tie Pilot, just on the basis of homage to the vintage line. I think chase with that could be any of Tie Pilot, Imperial Officer or Death Star Gunner. I also think since Tarkin wasn't done in the vintage line he's not a good fit.
It seems like they need either a Han or Luke in each series, so I'll again support Jeff with the Luke X-wing pilot figure. We're about due for an
ugnaught as well
I'm going to differ from Jeff in saying that the last figure will be a death star droid. In my list there is no droid in the series and I think that this may be possible using some components of the 3PO mold.
So...
1. Royal Guard (3:12)
2. Luke X-wing Pilot (3:12)
3. Death Squad Commander (3:12)
4. Walrusman (1:12)
5. Hammerhead (1:12)
6. Death Star Droid (1:12)
I'm going to guess that the next TRU box set will be a Droids series. C-3PO can be done easily with only changes in paint/plastic colour. What else would be included is a bit tough to pick. I'd like to see the R2 in here, but for the same reasons I listed for Drew above, I don't think it will happen. Jord Dusat, Kea Moll, Kez Iban and maybe Tig Fromm? I don't think we'll see Sise Fromm as it may be too hard to make a Kubrick that wide? Uncle Gundy?