Early in 2021, Playmates toys introduced that it had entered into an settlement with Paramount Consumer Products to supply new toys primarily based on the Star Trek Universe, together with basic reveals and flicks and the brand new collection streaming on Paramount+. Playmates beforehand produced Star Trek toys throughout the top of the franchise’s recognition within the Nineteen Nineties, together with toys primarily based on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. While the brand new line could also be a burst of nostalgia for longtime followers, particularly with figures celebrating the anniversary of Next Generation and Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, Playmates additionally launched its first motion figures primarily based on Star Trek: Discovery and has a Star Trek: Prodigy set on the way in which that is positive to entice new and youthful followers.
ComicBook.com had the possibility to electronic mail some inquiries to Playmates VP of Marketing John Stelmzer about what’s to return from Playmates’ persevering with foray again into the Star Trek franchise. Here’s what he needed to say, together with some pictures of the samples of the primary wave of Star Trek toys, which Playmates despatched over for us to take a look at:
I’m positive that every one choices about what you are promoting are in the end enterprise choices, however is there one thing sentimental about Playmates making Star Trek toys once more? Something particular given the corporate’s historical past with the property?
First, Star Trek is a perennial leisure franchise and Playmates Toys is all the time honored to be a part of it. We are all followers of Star Trek right here at Playmates. There is a lot to the Star Trek Universe, each the Classic and the brand new, that now could be actually the time to re-introduce the followers to what Playmates can carry from our distinctive historical past with Star Trek and our dedication to element, whereas nonetheless offering the perfect worth.
Star Trek has a wealth of characters and iconic moments from its basic reveals and flicks to attract on, in addition to loads of new reveals and new characters at present discovered on Paramount+. Your first wave of figures has a mixture of the 2. What’s your method/technique/philosophy in terms of balancing the corporate’s focus between the previous and the brand new?
One of the good issues about Star Trek is the depth of nice characters. Nothing is off the desk when it comes to what figures we might do sooner or later. We’re excited to actually begin exploring all the nice new leisure content material, but in addition wish to re-introduce among the all-time basic characters from the TV reveals and flicks. This yr is the fortieth Anniversary for Wrath of Khan and the thirty fifth Anniversary for Next Generation so it was vital to supply these figures proper out of the gate. We even have 2 figures from the brand new hit present Discovery. For future waves, we hope to proceed to construct on a superb mixture of basic and new.
I really like the eye to element within the figures, particularly the accent decisions. The ebook that comes with Michael Burnham is an particularly good contact. Can you inform us something in regards to the course of of choosing/designing/selecting equipment for figures, and what the big-picture objectives that information these decisions appear like?
For the Classic figures, we’re recreating the equipment that we used within the 90s. We have needed to resculpt these retro equipment since not one of the previous tooling nonetheless exists. Our aim with Classic was to maintain all the pieces very retro wanting, apart from the improved element within the determine sculpting, articulation, and deco. For figures primarily based on new reveals, we after all wished to have commonplace Starfleet challenge equipment however wished every of them to have a private accent that’s so vital to who these characters are.
What are the corporate’s plans in terms of one thing just like the 1701 line from the previous days? Are restricted releases, and even simply convention-exclusive releases, on the desk?
This time round we cannot offer any restricted releases outdoors of some potential conference or comedian con exclusives.
The character-based motion figures are clearly going to really feel just like the spine of the road, however the Enterprise mannequin could be very cool, and my child and I’ve been having enjoyable enjoying with the phaser. How vital will the ship fashions and roleplay toys be within the bigger Star Trek line? Should we count on fashions of the Enterprise-D and Voyager and even Deep Space 9 down the road?
Ships and different automobiles might be a big a part of our Star Trek providing. It is vital too that we not solely get the mannequin proper however incorporate genuine lights and sounds. We are different Classic and new ships, together with different variations of the Enterprise and different ships so as to add to our line as we converse. In the Star Trek Universe, ships are so vital that they’re actually like different characters, so they may all the time be vital to us and to followers.
For roleplay, there are key iconic weapons and different equipment that we plan to develop. Phasers, Communicators, Tricorders, and so on.
With your Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line, we have seen a number of crossovers with different properties, like Cobra Kai, Street Fighter, and Stranger Things. Is there crossover potential for the Star Trek line? Could we see one thing just like the previous TMNT x Star Trek toys both reprinted or up to date?
We aren’t planning collaborations proper now, however you by no means know the place each franchises can take us sooner or later.
Finally, we have already seen previews of the Star Trek: Prodigy toys. Any replace on once we can count on to see these in shops? And are you able to say something about what reveals might be represented within the subsequent batch of releases?
Prodigy motion figures are arriving this Spring in time for Easter. The first 4 figures might be Dal w/Murf, Gwyn, Jankom Pog, and Zero. They might be accessible on all retail ecomm websites solely in March to start out.
The first wave of Playmates’ new Star Trek toys is on sale now. You can discover a lot of them right here at Entertainment Earth.
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