2025 Star Wars Celebration Japan Panel Reveals

[Jeff]

Just a reminder that the Hasbro SWC Japan panel is at 11:30am local time on Friday, April 18th.   

I *think* that works out to 10:30pm ET/9:30pm CT on 4/17 for us in the USA.

https://www.starwarscelebration.com/en-us/explore-the-event/panels.html#/event/hasbro-star-wars-panel

Hasbro Star Wars Panel
11:30AM - 12:30PM local time
Live on the Twin Suns Stage - Chris Reiff, Emily Cantelupe, Hope Lecours, Jing Houle.

Join Hasbro Marketing & Design team members for an in-depth look at Hasbro’s latest Star Wars offerings from throughout the saga, including the Black Series and The Vintage Collection. Word on the Holonet is there may also be a few surprises. May the Force be with you!

[Jeff]

Capturing the pipeline reveals here... 

Thinking about what Hasbro might reveal tonight... crazy that these 4 figures were pipelined as part of the HasLab Cantina reveal over ten months ago (6/7/24).  Luke has already been revealed, pre-ordered, and shipped (and been double-dipped as a DLX) but we've basically heard nothing yet on the other three.  I am hoping we get a look at them soon and they are planned to get here about the same time as the Cantina.


I'm also wondering how the next round of reveals will go.  Will they do pre-ordering in the immediate future for anything they reveal tonight or will they postpone the pre-orders to a later date to try and get more stability on the tariff situation?

[Rob]

Yeah I was wondering the same Jeff.

I have a hard time seeing them taking preorders again without clarity (which does not seem likely any time soon) or a price increase to account for all this instability. 

So I’m thinking basic figures are either $19.99 or we’re waiting until later and they’ll still cost that or more.

Anything we get preorder at $17.99 is a win for the moment.

[Nicklab]

I think a lot of people saw that note that BBTS sent out where they were reserving the right to raise preorder prices in order to compensate for the import tariffs.

But then I wonder about the big retailers - Hasbro Pulse, Amazon, etc.  If they accept a preorder at a certain price, are they bound by the terms of the sale agreement to deliver it at that price?  I know Amazon has their preorder price guarantee.  But US customers and retailers didn't have this kind of situation to navigate before the current situation.

[Rob]

I could see everyone walking back their existing preorders.  They're not in the habit of losing money to get product out to us.

[Nicklab]

Jayson's notifications of when products have arrived in the U.S. have never been quite so relevant before now.  Because everything that arrived up until about a week ago (and cleared customs) should be shipping at the original prices.

But I look at everything that I've received or found in stores over the past few weeks or found in stores, and almost everything has MADE IN CHINA on the packaging.  The only exceptions were the Epic World of Action Scout Trooper with Speeder bike and SM-33.  Those were produced in Vietnam.

I'm wondering what Hasbro might have to say about this at Star Wars Celebration.

[Nicklab]

The Star Wars Celebration Livestream channel is up and running.  The stream commences at 10:00 PM ET tonight

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vbV-4BmPmxc

[Jeff]

Reveals:

Vintage Collection. - I'm not 100% sure, but I think all of these will be pre-ordered tomorrow (4/18) at 3pm ET (2pm CT). 

- VC367 Nightsister Merrin (Jedi Survivor)


- VC368 Moff Gideon (Dark Trooper Armor)


- VC369 Rocket Launcher Trooper (Jedi Survivor)


- VC370 Crosshair


- VC371 Cobb Vanth (BOBF)


- BANTHA (all-new) with VC380 Tusken Raider (Bantha Rider) [Pulse/Disney Exclusive]

[Ryan]

Missed the panel and will have to try and find it online later.

I love the all-new figures, and the rereleases/updates are all nice choices. Overall, I'm very happy w/ each one of these. It will be great to finally have another member of the Batch to go w/ Hunter, a friend for Cal Kestis, & the main villain from S3 of The Mandalorian (two years late). I really wish they'd have included Gideon's headsculpt, but it is safe to say we can expect the double-dip and will likely see another version of Gideon w/o his helmet soon though.

The new rocket accessory looks great, I'll be happy to add a few of those to my Imperial ranks. I also wouldn't mind seeing that rocket launcher again w/ a Range Trooper from Andor...

[McMetal]

Wow, Crosshair and a Bantha are exciting news! I never need to see another Cobb Vanth though, the stores around here couldn’t give those away.

[Rob]

Did they say when this stuff would be up for preordering?

[Jeff]

Did they say when this stuff would be up for preordering?

Vintage Collection. - I'm not 100% sure, but I think all of these will be pre-ordered tomorrow (4/18) at 3pm ET (2pm CT). 

It was a little confusing last night but according to Hasbro PR info it's 3pm ET today (4/18) for pre-orders.  $17 for the basic figures, $70 for the Bantha at Pulse.  Wait and see what EE, BBTS, Amazon charge...

[Rob]

Of course you already posted that and I missed it when I skimmed the page...Thanks.

[Jeff]

I missed it until this morning, but I guess Hasbro did post the SWCJ panel on their Pulse youtube channel if you want to watch it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dcyd6LTNWmA