Hasbro's Star Wars division discusses tariffs and trade friction
In the world of Star Wars collectibles, excitement was in the air at San Diego Comic-Con 2025. Hasbro, a leading name in the industry, showcased its focus on key Star Wars eras, particularly the prequel period, for new toy lines. The highlight was the HasLab Republic Gunship, a testament to the company's dedication to bringing iconic moments like the Battle of Geonosis to life.
However, while the spotlight was primarily on well-known saga and prequel content, a hint of exploration into the Expanded Universe (Legends) was evident. Jing Houle, a team member from Hasbro, mentioned the design team's embrace of the Expanded Universe side of Star Wars, expressing their interest in venturing into other EU areas in the future.
Despite this, as of August 2025, Hasbro’s revealed Star Wars toyline plans prioritise familiar content. The team is committed to figures and toys in the pipeline, including a surprise inclusion in the Black Series – Turgle, a character from the EU, who has received a positive reception, showcasing the fun and silliness that can be found in the Star Wars universe.
The Black Series team believes that Star Wars is not just about Death Troopers and Darth Vaders, but also includes characters like Turgle and Skoova Stev. Eric Franer and Tom Rego, members of the development team, played a significant role in their inclusion. Chris Reiff, another team member, mentioned that the sculpt for the Dash figure is not based off of anyone specifically, but rather all the different Dashes.
Hasbro's focus on the prequels continued, with the team currently focusing on visiting the 20th anniversary of Revenge of the Sith. Fans have been asking for figures and characters from the EU for a while, and Hasbro has shown willingness to oblige. In fact, the team is considering revisiting the character Qimir from the cancelled show The Acolyte for future figure releases.
The event was a reminder of the joyous silliness of collecting action figures, with new additions to its Star Wars toy lines revealed at Star Wars Celebration Japan. Concerns over U.S. tariffs and disputes about who was getting spotlights among Hasbro's toy picks were discussed, but the team remained resilient, committed to their figures and toys.
The team members, who are all gamers and huge fans of the Star Wars universe, were excited about the inclusions in the Black Series. The Black Series surprise at the panel was the inclusion of Turgle in the Jedi pack, inspired by a request for a larger pack and the enthusiasm of the gaming-oriented team members. The reveals included deep cut favourites and new takes on classic characters, making it a memorable event for Star Wars collectors.
In conclusion, while Hasbro's revealed Star Wars toyline plans prioritise well-known saga and prequel content, the company has shown a willingness to explore the Expanded Universe in the future. The positive reception to the Turgle figure and fan demand for EU characters suggest that this could be a promising direction for the future of Star Wars collectibles.
- Gizmodo featured an article on the latest Star Wars collectibles from Hasbro, showcasing their focus on technology and design.
- Technology played a significant role in the creation of the new HasLab Republic Gunship toy, replicating iconic moments from Star Wars.
- The world of toys-and-collectibles was abuzz with excitement at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, particularly around the Star Wars showcase by Hasbro.
- The future of Hasbro's Star Wars toyline looks promising, as they delve deeper into key Star Wars eras such as the prequels.
- io9 published a piece on the highlights from Hasbro's Comic-Con 2025 presentation, emphasizing the company's dedication to bringing quality gadgets to fans.
- Smartphones buzzed with news of the latest Star Wars collectibles, as fans shared their excitement on social media.
- Movies-and-TV showed a strong influence on Hasbro's latest Star Wars toy line, with figures and toys inspired by popular Star Wars stories.
- War-and-conflicts were a significant part of the Star Wars toy line, with the Battle of Geonosis being a key focus for Hasbro.
- Entertainment brought people together at Comic-Con 2025, with Hasbro's Star Wars toy line being a major highlight.
- Celebrities were captivated by the Hasbro booth at Comic-Con 2025, a testament to the appeal of Star Wars collectibles.
- Policy-and-legislation played a role in the discussion around import tariffs on Star Wars toys, impacting their pricing and availability.
- Politics was a topic of concern within the Star Wars community, as fans discussed who should be given spotlights in Hasbro's toy line.
- Pop-culture embraced the quirky, fun side of Star Wars, as evidenced by the inclusion of obscure characters like Turgle in Hasbro's Black Series.
- Sci-fi-and-fantasy fans were thrilled with the deep-cut favorites and new takes on classic characters revealed in Hasbro's Star Wars toy line.
- General-news outlets covered the updates from Hasbro's Comic-Con 2025 presentation, highlighting their commitment to bringing quality products to the market.
- Sports-lovers were also intrigued by the Star Wars universe, as characters like Turgle and Skoova Stev were featured in Hasbro's Black Series.
- Football, basketball, baseball, hockey, golf, and many other sports were subtly referenced in the Star Wars universe through character names or themes.
- Sports-betting enthusiasts might find a connection between some Star Wars characters and their favorite sports, offering unique betting opportunities.
- Basketball fans were excited about the potential for EU characters like Qimir to be released as figures in Hasbro's future toy lines.
- American-football, especially the NFL, NFL, WNBA, and college sports like NCAA Basketball and NFL, were reflected in the diverse roster of Star Wars characters.
- Racing, golf, horse-racing, tennis, and mixed-martial-arts were also represented in the Star Wars universe, offering a wide range of interests for collectors.
- Weather and sports-analysis were a part of the Star Wars universe, with weather forecasting and auto-racing playing a role in various stories.
