Star Wars license discussion

[Brickmamba]

Yeah, that pretty much sums me up. In the last 13 years of collecting I am already nearly up to 750 Star wars sets bought and probably 500+ of those in the last 6 years! I know for sure that my present house can't stand up to firepower (purchases) of that magnitude!

That is a scary thought, I don't even have 50 and already find Lego everywhere in the house, can't imagine what that equates to in $

[CaptainCRO]

If LSW would stop, I would no longer buy any LEGO because I don't have any interests in other themes.

But, I really dob't know what are they going to do after TCW is finished.

I can see the theme getting old at this point because of 35 versions of X wing and 18 versions of AT AT.

I have always wondered why do they recycle so much sets and rarely make something new.

[StoutFiles]

I have always wondered why do they recycle so much sets and rarely make something new.

Kids are more willing to spend $60 on an X-wing than Lars' Homestead. They make more money rereleasing popular sets than they do making new sets and hoping they sell well.

"Fight the Empire in the new Lars' Homestead! Can Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen avoid a fiery death from the invading Sandtroopers? Comes with two Sandtroopers, Aunt Beru, Uncle Owen, and two skeletons. 632 pieces."

Edited February 15, 2012 by StoutFiles

[mrklaw]

If LSW would stop, I would no longer buy any LEGO because I don't have any interests in other themes.

But, I really dob't know what are they going to do after TCW is finished.

I can see the theme getting old at this point because of 35 versions of X wing and 18 versions of AT AT.

I have always wondered why do they recycle so much sets and rarely make something new.

there aren't 35 x-wings and 18 AT-ATs on sale at the same time though, just one of each. Kids aren't really collectors and will get a few sets a year maybe. So just running through the evergreen ships/dioramas for the OT can fill a childhood of fond memories.

Not so much for AFOL maybe, or edge cases like those that collect 750 sets ;)

[Mr Man]

Kids are more willing to spend $60 on an X-wing than Lars' Homestead. They make more money rereleasing popular sets than they do making new sets and hoping they sell well.

"Fight the Empire in the new Lars' Homestead! Can Aunt Beru and Uncle Owen avoid a fiery death from the invading Sandtroopers? Comes with two Sandtroopers, Aunt Beru, Uncle Owen, and two skeletons. 632 pieces."

"Slide back the roof to reveal the flick fire missiles to keep the Empire at bay".

[Blondie-Wan]

I'm in the same boat. Partially because I don't like seeing my sets and figures become outdated

Amen to that! I hope we don't get more revisions to basic army builders like stormtroopers again.

There's been a continual push of mass merchandise with the Star Wars brand since 1977, it doesn't seem to have caused the brand much of an issue so far. Star Wars merchandising is pretty much a license to print money and I'm not in the least bit surprised that Lego Star Wars, which in itself has become bigger than simply construction sets, will be continuing. It would take some drastic turn in fortunes for either party to want to walk away from that one.

Mostly true, although it died down significantly from the mid-'80s to the early-to-mid-'90s. There was perhaps less stuff produced in a roughly ten-year period in that time frame than is produced nowadays in a single year.

[Solscud007]

I havent read this thread but I thought I would add my 2 cents.

We can pretty much bet on the fact that Lucas, even beyond the grave, will milk Starwars for eons. For the next decade we have the re-release of the 6 movies in 3D. I assume they will not be released every year.

On top of that we have new DVD/Blu Ray formats and eventually 3D versions for home viewing. Given the popularity of the Clone Wars we might see something else down the road. In just the PT and OT there are so many years of Lego sets to be milked. It is an extremely lucrative golden goose that will keep laying golden eggs and I dont see it ending.

Kids who watched EPI back in the day are now older and will want legos to remind them of their youths. The AFOLS will buy them as long as their are good OT stuff.

[Ritz Brick]

"Slide back the roof to reveal the flick fire missiles to keep the Empire at bay".

"Use the catapult to attack the enemy with blue milk"

[Davor]

But, I really dob't know what are they going to do after TCW is finished.

after TCW ends we are getting new tv series (non animated) called Star Wars: Underworld thats deals in timeframe from Order 66 to A New Hope.

[Mr Man]

"Use the catapult to attack the enemy with blue milk"

[Brickadeer]

I havent read this thread but I thought I would add my 2 cents.

We can pretty much bet on the fact that Lucas, even beyond the grave, will milk Starwars for eons. For the next decade we have the re-release of the 6 movies in 3D. I assume they will not be released every year.

Yes, they will, from 2012 to 2017.

On top of that we have new DVD/Blu Ray formats and eventually 3D versions for home viewing. Given the popularity of the Clone Wars we might see something else down the road. In just the PT and OT there are so many years of Lego sets to be milked. It is an extremely lucrative golden goose that will keep laying golden eggs and I dont see it ending.

Kids who watched EPI back in the day are now older and will want legos to remind them of their youths. The AFOLS will buy them as long as their are good OT stuff.

Well, maybe you are right. But that's the same with certain sports car brands or the records of the Beatles, or fashion in general. So I'm not really seeing your point :)

[AngryChair]

after TCW ends we are getting new tv series (non animated) called Star Wars: Underworld thats deals in timeframe from Order 66 to A New Hope.

I read an article with Rick MaCullum and he was saying that Star Wars Underworld will be a little more adult in theme (by that I mean gritty) so it may not be aimed at kids. If that is the case I struggle to see how TLG would market what is in effect a child's toy based on an adult theme. I can see maybe 2-3 more Clone Wars series and then a cartoon based on The Old Republic MMO. With that and the game I can see both TLG and Lucas mining that for a while. They've recently renewed the license so they must have something planned to keep the franchise going.

As someone already said above, there will only be so many redesigns of the X-Wing and Falcon etc.

[Ebak]

I havent read this thread but I thought I would add my 2 cents.

We can pretty much bet on the fact that Lucas, even beyond the grave, will milk Starwars for eons. For the next decade we have the re-release of the 6 movies in 3D. I assume they will not be released every year.

On top of that we have new DVD/Blu Ray formats and eventually 3D versions for home viewing. Given the popularity of the Clone Wars we might see something else down the road. In just the PT and OT there are so many years of Lego sets to be milked. It is an extremely lucrative golden goose that will keep laying golden eggs and I dont see it ending.

Kids who watched EPI back in the day are now older and will want legos to remind them of their youths. The AFOLS will buy them as long as their are good OT stuff.

Yeah...because no franchise in history has ever been milked for money...just Star Wars.

People forget that George revolutionised movie making and indirectly created Pixar...furthermore the money he makes on the 3D films will most likely go into making the TV seires, not all of it goes into his pocket.

As for EPI stuff, I was a kid during that time, however i collect the Lego sets because I enjoy Star Wars and was a Star Wars fan long before episode 1.

[Brickadeer]

I read an article with Rick MaCullum and he was saying that Star Wars Underworld will be a little more adult in theme (by that I mean gritty) so it may not be aimed at kids. If that is the case I struggle to see how TLG would market what is in effect a child's toy based on an adult theme. I can see maybe 2-3 more Clone Wars series and then a cartoon based on The Old Republic MMO. With that and the game I can see both TLG and Lucas mining that for a while. They've recently renewed the license so they must have something planned to keep the franchise going.

As someone already said above, there will only be so many redesigns of the X-Wing and Falcon etc.

Generally, Star Wars is not made for persons of a certain age. TCW is not exactly made for kids; there are quite too many things that cannot be understood and appreciated by kids. I'm pretty sure that Underworld will aim at the target audience of the OT and the PT, which means that kids are not excluded from the target audience.

[LEGOman273]

Generally, Star Wars is not made for persons of a certain age. TCW is not exactly made for kids; there are quite too many things that cannot be understood and appreciated by kids. I'm pretty sure that Underworld will aim at the target audience of the OT and the PT, which means that kids are not excluded from the target audience.

I agree.

[General Magma]

Generally, Star Wars is not made for persons of a certain age. TCW is not exactly made for kids; there are quite too many things that cannot be understood and appreciated by kids. I'm pretty sure that Underworld will aim at the target audience of the OT and the PT, which means that kids are not excluded from the target audience.

I think 'Underworld' is supposed to become a pretty dark series.

Doubt it will really be aimed at children, but whatever it's aimed at doesn't seem to matter so much for the LEGO license,

as usually with Star Wars.

I'm sure they'll use 'Underworld' (and by 'they' I mean TLC) as an opportunity to have something extra to make sets for.

Perhaps it will help tone down the amounts of remakes we've been getting lately, and whatever the show will be aimed at, I think it wouldn't receive an 18+ stamp,

that would be very unusual for Star Wars. Besides, Lord of the Rings isn't really something that's aimed at children either. If this 'Underworld' thing goes on,

I'd make sure to expect sets from that in the future.

~ General Magma

Edited February 22, 2012 by General Magma

[AngryChair]

I think 'Underworld' is supposed to become a pretty dark series.

Doubt it will really be aimed at children, but whatever it's aimed at doesn't seem to matter so much for the LEGO license,

as usually with Star Wars.

I'm sure they'll use 'Underworld' (and by 'they' I mean TLC) as an opportunity to have something extra to make sets for.

Perhaps it will help tone down the amounts of remakes we've been getting lately, and whatever the show will be aimed at, I think it wouldn't receive an 18+ stamp,

that would be very unusual for Star Wars. Besides, Lord of the Rings isn't really something that's aimed at children either. If this 'Underworld' thing goes on,

I'd make sure to expect sets from that in the future.

~ General Magma

I agree, while MaCullum said that it wouldn't be in the vein of Game of Thrones or DeadWood for its portrayal of sex and language it would be generally darker that what we're used to. I have my doubts about that kind of series though.

I also agree with comments about CW not being really aimed at kids. Some of the episodes have been dark, but for us older fans awesome..! But if it gives us more sets instead of re-issues for the next 10 years and they are of good design then I'm all for it

[Brickadeer]

But if it gives us more sets instead of re-issues for the next 10 years and they are of good design then I'm all for it

Actually, I'd like to see a re-issue of the AT-TE and the Republic Gunship, if possible, with season 4 figures

[AngryChair]

Actually, I'd like to see a re-issue of the AT-TE and the Republic Gunship, if possible, with season 4 figures

Indeed that would be nice. It features heavily in TCW so I bet we'll see them both over the next couple of years. (Nice avatar btw!)

[cerebus76]

Indeed that would be nice. It features heavily in TCW so I bet we'll see them both over the next couple of years. (Nice avatar btw!)

Yeah I think those of us who missed out on the first two versions of the Gunship are hurting pretty bad. I keep eyeing them on Bricklink and eBay, but I think I'll hold off until 2013 and see if they release a new version for TCW 3D. TLG has to know the demand is there.

[WampaStomper]

Yeah I think those of us who missed out on the first two versions of the Gunship are hurting pretty bad. I keep eyeing them on Bricklink and eBay, but I think I'll hold off until 2013 and see if they release a new version for TCW 3D. TLG has to know the demand is there.

TCW 3D? Don't you mean AOTC?

[AngryChair]

Yeah I think those of us who missed out on the first two versions of the Gunship are hurting pretty bad. I keep eyeing them on Bricklink and eBay, but I think I'll hold off until 2013 and see if they release a new version for TCW 3D. TLG has to know the demand is there.

I think it would seem logical that there would be a re-design (re-issue) of the Gunship for the release of AotC. Maybe another version of Dooku's Solar Sailor as well.

[thecolossus]

I've heard that the fifth season of the Clone Wars tv series is going to be its last. Is this going to mean that Star Wars as a Lego theme will end up being discontinued?

[Iron-Man]

Nope not at all. TLG just signed a 10 year extension to their contract to continue making LEGO Star Wars until something like 2023 or something if I am not mistaken?

[thecolossus]

Nope not at all. TLG just signed a 10 year extension to their contract to continue making LEGO Star Wars until something like 2023 or something if I am not mistaken?

If that's true that's awesome. I love my Star Wars Lego!