Star Wars: Episode VII: The Nerd Rage Awakens

[B.J.]

Yeah, but they're still canonical characters even if George and the movie scriptwriters didn't invent the names. The Star Wars universe both big screen and small knows no shortage of goofy names.

Case in point: Droopy McCool.

That's his stage name.

(I was just kidding, but looked and found out that's not far from the truth! In the Legends canon, anyway.)

 

[davejames]

So, any speculation as to why Leia hasn't been shown in any of the promotional materials/trailers for the Episode VII?

It's probably just because it's early yet. And they clearly seem to want to focus more on the newer characters at the moment, and get people familiar with them first.

 

[HIjol]

So, any speculation as to why Leia hasn't been shown in any of the promotional materials/trailers for the Episode VII?

Maybe something to do with this?:


Ms Wreyford, from Walthamstow, north east London, first tweeted Disney asking about the absence of Princess Leia dolls on May 20 after visiting their stores in Covent Garden and Westfield.
She wrote: “Why aren't there any Leia Dolls or Leia products available in Disney stores? My daughter really wants one.”
Disney cheerfully replied: “Currently, there are no plans for Leia products at Disney Store, Natalie. Have a wonderful day!"

Disney has since relented, and plan to release "a number" of Leia products.

Source: The Telegraph, Wednesday, May 13, 2015

 

[fireproof78]

So, any speculation as to why Leia hasn't been shown in any of the promotional materials/trailers for the Episode VII?

Maybe something to do with this?:


Ms Wreyford, from Walthamstow, north east London, first tweeted Disney asking about the absence of Princess Leia dolls on May 20 after visiting their stores in Covent Garden and Westfield.
She wrote: “Why aren't there any Leia Dolls or Leia products available in Disney stores? My daughter really wants one.”
Disney cheerfully replied: “Currently, there are no plans for Leia products at Disney Store, Natalie. Have a wonderful day!"

Disney has since relented, and plan to release "a number" of Leia products.

Source: The Telegraph, Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Leia is a Disney Princess now. That better change post haste

 

[cooleddie74]

If Disney of all companies can't adequately and competently market Princess Leia Organa to girls then maybe they weren't the best company to buy Lucasfilm.

 

[Skywalker]

I dunno, man. They're pretty terrible at making toys for Black Widow, one of the most prominent Avengers. This doesn't surprise me at all.

 

[cooleddie74]

No argument there.

"But action figures of girls don't sell!" *


*well, they sell, if we bother to actually make them and then competently distribute them to the big box chains. Wait, are we talking about Disney or Hasbro? Who are we kidding, it applies to both.

 

[Skywalker]

I think it's more that they feel like they've already got the market on toys for girls covered, so for them Marvel is all about toys for boys.

 

[cooleddie74]

They're wrong, but that won't stop them from soldiering on with their preconceptions and stereotypes.

 

[Jedi_Master]

Leia even has a fancy hairdo and a fancy white dress! She begs a dude to help her! Come on Disney, you can make this work.

 

[Ithekro]

Adding her to the Princess line of dolls would seem odd. Having her with the likes of Snow White, Ariel, and Elsa. to follow the progression of generations. Though she might be the only '70s Princess of the Disney line.

 

[Jedi_Master]

In all fairness, I am sure that even the marketing geniuses at Disney had to spend a little time contemplating how to go about integrating Leia toys into their overall merchandising plan.
However, in my opinion the theme "Not Your Average Princess" should have been readily apparent, with lots of hipstery stuff for the tweens.

 

[JD]

^And this my friends, is another example of a fan coming up with a better marketing strategy than the company who owns the character.

I got the digital version of the Vanity Fair SWVII issue, and there really wasn't anything new about the movie in it. It was mostly just about Abrams and Kennedy. I'm glad I only spent $5.21 on it.

 

[cooleddie74]

The fans and collectors usually do come up with better marketing strategies for the characters and merchandise than do the companies that own and manufacture them.

 

[fireproof78]

Absolutely. It drives me nuts how short sighted toy companies can be as far as marketing. I felt the same way with the Abrams Star Trek merchandising, especially Into Darkness.

Beyond that, Disney needs to sort it out soon, for the holiday season and movie release.

 

[cooleddie74]

At least we're getting a new Ahsoka figure based on Rebels, but she and the Darth Vader that comes with her in the planned 2-pack aren't supposed to be released until later this year, possibly around the time that Episode VII merchandise officially debuts in stores.

 

[HIjol]

And, Disney, of all companies, made some of its greatest revenue generating movies of all time with female leads!

Mulan
Jane from Tarzan
Belle, Ariel, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White,
Lady from Lady & The Tramp
Miss Bianca from The Rescuers
Lilo & Nani from Lilo & Stitch
Perdita from 101 Dalmatians
Captain Amelia from Treasure Planet
Duchess & Marie from The Aristocats
Alice from Alice in Wonderland
Tinkerbell & Wendy from Peter Pan

 

[fireproof78]

I would be curious to revisit some of the marketing from those films, and the merchandising, as I can't really recall most of it. But, and maybe this is Disney waiting on the film release to put their stamp on it, there seems to be a little bit of holding back by Disney in terms of merchandising.

The reason I say this is because the marketing feels the same that it has been for the past several years, with little variation and change. I'm hoping there will be something different done.

 

[Jedi_Master]

At least we're getting a new Ahsoka figure based on Rebels, but she and the Darth Vader that comes with her in the planned 2-pack aren't supposed to be released until later this year, possibly around the time that Episode VII merchandise officially debuts in stores.

The world needs more Ahsoka. She is the best character in TCW, on the same level as Rex and Cody.

 

[martok2112]

Asohka is probably my favorite character from TCW as well. She had grown from snippy youngling to badass Padawan/damn near Jedi Knight...and I just adored her from start to finish.