Star Wars 50th Anniversary

 Yes, I have a new figure in hand: Baze Malbus. But, I don't feel like doing a review yet. Why? It's hot, it's humid, and I get lazy when that happens. But, what to write about? I thought about doing a post about what I would so if I ran Lucasfilm now but it would be a broken record. But with the 50th anniversary of Star Wars next year, I felt it would be interesting if I planned out the entire year for the Vintage Collection. Like many collectors, I feel that there will be a strong emphasis on ANH, and Starfighter will get a few figures as well. But will we get vehicles, or playsets? Find out as I plan the 5 retail and 2 Fan Channel waves! All images are from IG user Figures Of The Force and are not mine. 

2027 Wave 1

ANH Darth Vader (alternate card image)

ANH Ben Kenobi (hooded head)

ANH Stormtrooper (alternate card image)

ANH Leia Organa (soft goods skirt)

ANH C-3PO (all new sculpt)

ANH Luke Skywalker (new paint apps, alternate card image)

Analysis: I don't expect much for the 1st wave. Mostly repacks with 1 newly tooled figures, and 2 figures with partial tooling in Ben and Leia. A new Threepio is a must, the one we have isn't acceptable, and he's needed on a Star Wars (ANH) card. Since ANH is coming back to theaters, I had to include Luke. This time he's got extra weathering paint, but he's a repack. It wouldnt be the one with the Landspeeder. The expectation would be to have a vehicle or playset, but that's being saved for the next wave. Just not what you think. 

2027 Wave 2

Starfighter Droid

Starfighter Ryan Gosling

Starfighter Mia Goth

ANH Han Solo (alternate card image)

ANH Wedge Antilles

ANH Grand Moff Tarkin

Vehicle: Starfighter X-Wing 

Analysis: 3 newly tooled figures, and 1 repack and 2 partially tooled figures. Wedge would need a new head and helmet on the X-Wing Luke buck, and Tarkin would just need a new head sculpt on the Imperial Officer buck. With the Starfighter X-Wing, it would be the same as Poe Dameron's X-Wing but in a different color. I could see Ryan Gosling's character in pilot uniform being the included. The droid from Starfighter could be newly tooled, or a repaint of the Build-A-Droid Artoo buck. But I want new! 

2027 1st Fan Channel Wave: ANH 

Uncle Owen 

Aunt Beru

General Dodonna

Biggs Darklighter (Anchorhead)

Analysis: As much as I want these figures, they are retail poison. They should all be partially tooled figures. The Anchorhead Biggs is from a deleted scene, and won't be the only figure from that deleted scene to arrive next year. 

1st Wave 2027 Multipacks

Imperial Officer 3 Pack

Rebel Soldiers Troop Pack (repacked)

Sandtrooper 4 Pack

Analysis: Repacking the Rebel Soldiers is a no brainer. Yes, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth over the swivel hips, but Hasbro has gotta Hasbro. The Sandtrooper 4 Pack will come with custom pauldrons and extra weapons to build out scenes. The Imperial Officer 3 Pack will all be black uniformed officers, the 2 that interact with Vader on Leia's ship (I don't know their names) and a 3rd grunt. 

2027 Wave 3

Starfighter Matt Smith

ANH Walrus Man (newly tooled legs, alternate card image)

ANH Hammerhead (alternate card image)

ANH Bo Shek

ANH Chewbacca 

ANH Sandtrooper 

Playset: Death Star Briefing Room with General Tagge 

Vehicles:

 Luke's X-Wing with Piolet Luke and battle damaged R2-D2. 

Y-Wing Fighter with Gold Leader figure and Droid

Analysis: I think we could get some Kenner styling in the VC, and making Walrus Man (Ponda Baba) in the mainline instead of being contained in a playset isn't a bad idea. I thought about putting him in the next fan wave, but I needed a weirdo. Bo Shek would be an all newly tooled figure, opening the door for a new Bossk. Chewbacca and the Sandtrooper are repaints, with Matt Smith's Starfighter character being an all new sculpt. Hammerhead is just too cool to not repack. X-Wing Luke gets new life, but a damaged R2 on card would sell with the ship to recreate the end of the Battle of Yavin after Vader blasted the droid he once called friend. Plus we finally get a Y-Wing with Gold Leader and his droid. Oh, and the Briefing Room! It would be a simple set, with the table, chairs, and a back wall. I chose Tagge over Yularen since Tagge speaks. We already have Motti from the Officer Pack, but there's a chance we see Yularen pretty soon. 

2027 2nd Fan Channel Wave: ANH

ANH Camie

ANH Fixer

Colonel Yularen

Admiral Motti

Analysis: We get the last 2 Anchorhead figures we need. Camie and Fixer would be partial tools, as would Yularen and Motti, who gets a card. Finally! There are more build outs for the Briefing Room with the multipacks. 

2nd Wave 2027 Multipacks

Carded Imperial Officer 4 pack: General Romodi, General Molock, General Bast, Chief Cass

Dark Force Rising 3 Pack: Talon Karrde, Mara Jade and Luke Skywalker 

Analysis: We build out the Briefing Room. It's easy enough to do these figures. While I originally put an Heir To The Empire 2 Pack of Talon and Mara, a 3 pack made sense since HTTE got a 3 pack. Talon and Mara are new, Luke will be a partial tool as the Light Cruiser Luke gets new barbell hips, which means he would possibly need a new chest as well. 

Retro Collection 

I thought a new version of the Early Bird Kit would be nice, so Luke, Leia, Chewbacca and R2-D2 would be back. But the difference is that Luke would come with a new, normal right arm that doesn't have the telescoping lightsaber. So he can hold his lightsaber and Stormtrooper blaster. For 2028, they should make Luke, Ben and Vader with double telescoping lightsabers in a special 3 pack.

2027 Wave 4

RO Galen Erso

RO Cassian Andor (Scariff Disguise)

RO Jyn Erso (Scariff Disguise)

ANH Stormtrooper Han

ANH Stormtrooper Luke

ANH R2-D2 

Creature: Dewback with Sandtrooper 

Analysis: I wanted to work in Rogue One figures because that movie plays right into ANH. Galen Erso would be a new sculpt, and maybe open a door for a Dr Pershing figure from The Mandalorian, if it isn't too late for that. Jyn was done in the 5 POA line, and would be needed in the VC. I liked the idea of a disguise wave, as it played a big role in both movies. Hopefully the new head sculpts for Jyn and Cassian could be swapped onto their older figures. The Dewback is badly needed, and comes with this wave. 

5th Wave 2027 (Final wave of the year)

Yavin Ceremony Luke

Yavin Ceremony Han

Yavin Ceremony Leia

Ahsoka S2 Nightrooper 

Ahsoka S2 Baylan Skoll 

Ahsoka S2 Ezra Bridger 

Multipack: Cantina 4 pack (Ackmena, Yellow Space Suit Guy, Rycar Ryjard and Jenny)

Analysis: Luke and Ezra would actually be the same newly tooled figures. There's an image of Ezra in Ahsoka S2 wearing a blue jacket, and maybe he's wearing an outfit similar to Luke's Yavin Ceremony outfit, in style if not in colors. I don't know when Ahsoka S2 will air, but unlike Starfighter, I don't see Hasbro getting ahead with the VC for that this time. Baylan just needs a new head sculpt to resemble the new actor, and the Nightrooper needs a single card. So does Captain Enoch from that show but that's for another day. We get another Cantina 4 pack with some favorites thrown in. 

Well that's it for 2027. What about 2028? I dropped a hint for Retro. But with 2028 being the 50th anniversary of the debut of the toyline, I feel it should be a celebration of the entire Saga. Yes, even the Disney stuff too. That's what Fan Channel waves are for. But I see more of a focus on the Mains, with some alien weirdos thrown in for good measure. Plus, HasLab's need support, so I expect Hasbro to go all in with 6 VC waves, 3 Fan Channel waves and many Multipacks. 

2028 1st wave

TPM Obi-Wan Kenobi 

TPM Qui-Gon Jinn

TPM Darth Maul

TPM Darth Sidious 

TPM Padme Amidala (Theed Battle)

TPM Anakin Skywalker (Tattooine)

Analysis: All of these figures would be newly tooled. Theed Battle Padme opens the door for the other Handmaidens. I assume we are getting AOTC versions of Obi-Wan and Anakin, so we won't get much for Mains for AOTC. A kid Anakin is needed, as are both Maul and Sidious, who's buck will be used again later in this year. I should just say this is the year of Palpy. 

2028 1st Fan Channel Wave 

ROS Rey Skywalker 

ROS Supreme Leader Kylo Ren 

ROS Poe Dameron (Pasana)

ROS Finn (Pasana)

Analysis: Rey is a repack, this time she's got her yellow lightsaber at the end of the movie. Poe and Finn could be made with kitbashing, while Kylo would need to be a new sculpt, and come with a swappable Ben Solo head, and Leia's lightsaber too. I have the 1st and last movie episodes for the 1st regular and fan channel waves. It's like poetry, it rhymes. 

2028 2nd Wave

ROTS Anakin

ROTS Obi-Wan 

Clone Wars Padme

Ahsoka S1 Ahsoka (WBW Flashback)

Clone Wars Plo Koon

Clone Wars Asajj Ventress (Bounty Hunter)

Analysis: Repacking the ROTS Obi-Wan and Anakin from the Wally World 2 packs is a given at some point. But we get 4 newly tooled figures this wave. Not bad! 

2028 1st Multipack Wave

Phase I Clonetrooper 4 pack

Phase II Clonetrooper 4 pack

Clone Wars Satine and Obi-Wan 2 pack

Naboo Soldier Troop Pack 

Gungan Soldier Troop Pack 

Analysis: The Naboo and Gungan troops would need new tooling, but they can be shared across the other figures. Satine and Obi-Wan would be in their S5 outfits when they face Maul in Clone Wars. I put this together before Hasbro announced a Phase I white armor Clonetrooper building pack. 

2028 2nd Fan Channel Wave 

RO Cassian Andor 

RO Jyn Erso

Andor Luthen Rael 

Andor Kleya Marki 

Rebels Maul

Rebels Ben Kenobi 

Analysis: This might be the wave that would end the VC once and for all, if it went to retail. Cassian and Jyn would get new sculpts to match newer RO figures. Luthen and Kleya would pegwarm badly, IMO. But Maul and Ben Kenobi would sell, with Ben being a repack and Maul getting a new sculpt. While Luthen has won many VC fan polls, his Black Series figure can be found at various Ollie's and Ross stores. Ben and Maul would save this wave, which is why they're in it. 

Retro Collection 

Early Bird Pack

Double Telescoping Lightsaber 3 Pack (Luke, Ben, Vader)

Analysis: No cards, but each figure would be in trays. 

3rd Wave 2028

Bespin Luke 

Bespin Han

Hoth/Millennium Falcon Leia

Ughnaught

Boba Fett

Darth Vader 

Bounty Hunter Carded 4 Pack (Zuckuss, 4-LOM, Bossk, IG-88)

Analysis: Vader would be painted to match his appearance in the movie. Boba Fett would be newly tooled from the waist down. Han would also be a partial tool, with Luke, Leia and the Ughnaught being newly tooled. A variant for the Ughnaught would be without the purple apron. I'm happy with the Dengar we have, but IG-88 would have the IG-11 buck with his correct hands (IG-11's hands are different from IG-88).  

2028 2nd Multipacks Wave

Yoda with Dagobah Training Luke

Ughnaught 4 pack (with removable vests and aprons)

Jaina Solo vs Darth Caedus

Solo Kids 3 Pack (Jacen, Jaina, Anakin)

Crimson Empire 2 Pack (Kir Kanos vs Carnor Jax)

Analysis: A good mix of OT and Legends figures. The Solo Kids would be a carded 3 pack, and Jaina vs Caedus a carded 2 pack. There will be more Legends figures in the final Fan Channel wave. 

4th Wave 2028

Home One Leia

Home One Han

Home One Luke

General Lando

Admiral Ackbar

Playset: Rebel Briefing Display with Mon Mothma and General Madine

Creature: Rancor with Rancor Keeper

Analysis: Ackbar is a repack, I'm okay with his figure as it is. Luke would be repacked from the HTTE set, as he wore his Jedi outfit with the belt on Home One. Leia would be newly tooled, as would General Lando, while Han is a repaint. Neither Luke, Han, or Leia would come with ponchos or trench coats. The Rebel Display would be the display with a holographic Death Star II, along with carded versions of Mothma and Madine, the only way we could get them. New Rancor to go with the Rancor Keeper, just shrink down the Sixer Rancor sculpt. 

5th Wave 2028

Endor Duel Luke Skywalker 

Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker 

Emperor's Royal Guard 

Endor Rebel Commando 

Chief Chirpa

Vehicles: 

Speeder Bike with Biker Scout 

TIE Fighter with new TIE Pilot

TIE Interceptor with new TIE Pilot

A-Wing Fighter with pilot

Playset: Emperor's Throne Room with Emperor and Sim Aloo

Multipacks: 

Ewok carded 4 pack (Wicket, Logray, Paploo, Warok)

Rebels Carded 4 Pack: Fifth Brother, Seventh Sister, Rex and Rebel Agent Kallus

Rebels Carded 4 Pack: Hondo Ohnaka, Azmorigan, Vizago, IG-RM droid

Analysis: The Rebels packs fill out the Ghost, and aside from Azmorigan would be kit bashes. The Throne Room would have the Throne from a few years ago, but with a deck to display Vader and Luke fighting. It sucks to put an Original 96er in a playset, but that's the only way he would sell outside a fan channel wave. I blanked out on the missing Ewoks so I went with the 4 I know. The ERG gets a new sculpt thanks to the Crimson Empire 2 pack. The Speeder Bike gets repacked, as does the TIE Fighter while the A-Wing and Interceptor are new and partially tooled (only need new wings for the Interceptor). 

2028 3rd Fan Channel Wave 

Exar Kun

Clone Palpatine 

DE Luke Skywalker 

Lumiya 

Rukh

Analysis: Legends deserves more love, but this would be a great fan channel wave. They won't clog up retail, and with Rukh we can close out the OG Thrawn Trilogy. I picked Exar Kun over Dash Rendar, but Dash will be in the final wave of 2028. 

6th Wave 2028 (Hasbro Pulse exclusives)

Dash Rendar 

Darth Malak

Kyle Katarn 

Jan Orrs

Jayden Korr

Analysis: Gaming Greats gets VC love for the final wave, and covers some great older games. While Jedi Fallen Order and Jedi Survivor need figures, there just wasn't enough room to put them here. I'd rather get this wave anyway, as there are more characters from older games I want and need, and I'd rather get these first before getting newer ones. Revan needs a Malak to boss around, plus Dark Forces and Jedi Academy need love as well. Dash mostly blasts Stormtroopers and IG-88, so he already has figures to interact with. 

That wraps up my dreams for 2027 and 2028. I will only have 1 post for July as I have vacations coming up. Thanks for reading! A special thanks to Chris and Nomad at BanthaSkull for allowing me to post this in the comments section. Please share this link on your social media accounts so I can get more readers! 

LAGNIAPPE SECTION 

Mel Brooks turns 100 today, and next to George Lucas is one of my favorite film makers. Spaceballs, Blazing Saddles (which couldn't be made today), Young Frankenstein, Robin Hood Men In Tights, The Producers, you get the idea. As much as Lucas made me want to use my imagination, Mel Brooks just made me laugh. He's one of the reasons why I think laughing every day is essential. Happy Birthday, Mel Brooks!