- Title: Star Wars toys revealed ahead of film, TV and video game releases
- Date: 26th September 2019
- Summary: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (SEPTEMBER 26, 2019) (REUTERS) NEW STAR WARS TOY "D-O" DROID MOVING ACROSS FLOOR "D-O" STOPPING AND LOOKING AROUND REPRESENTATIVE AT STAND DEMONSTRATING THE FUNCTIONS OF NEW STAR WARS LIGHTSABER, RECORDING HER OWN VOICE ON LIGHTSABER AND WAVING IT AROUND REPRESENTATIVE RECORDING VOICE ON LIGHTSABER AND WAVING IT MERCHANDISE DISPLAYED FOR NEW STAR WARS VIDEO GAME "STAR WARS JEDI: FALLEN ORDER" (SCREEN LEFT), MOVIE "STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER" (CENTRE) AND LIVE ACTION SERIES "THE MANDALORIAN" (SCREEN RIGHT) LEGO "THE MANDALORIAN" CHARACTERS ON DISPLAY "STAR WARS: THE RISE OF SKYWALKER" BACKPACKS ON DISPLAY SIGN FOR "STAR WARS THE MANDALORIAN" VARIOUS OF ACTOR WARWICK DAVIS POSING FOR PHOTOS IN FRONT OF LARGE-SCALE LEGO STAR WARS X-WING STARFIGHTER STAR WARS LEGO SPACECRAFT / DAVIS SPEAKING WITH WOMAN (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, WARWICK DAVIS, SAYING: "You know, not a day goes by where I don't talk about Star Wars, either to a fan or at an event or what have you, or being part of the movies themselves. So, it's a huge part of my life and it started from a very simple beginning. My grandmother, hearing a radio announcement, and they were looking for short people to be in the new Star Wars film 'Return of the Jedi'. And, you know, her hearing that announcement, that one moment in time, has blossomed into all of this, everything I do today as an actor and presenter, which is incredible. But Star Wars has always been a passion for me, since I was seven years old, when I first saw Star Wars and to be able to spend, you know, most days being involved with it one way or another, is truly a privilege." LARGE-SCALE LEGO STAR WARS X-WING STARFIGHTER OUTSIDE BUILDING AT PINEWOOD STUDIOS VARIOUS OF DAVIS SPEAKING TO JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, WARWICK DAVIS, SAYING: "You know, as an actor the first time you see yourself immortalised as a Star Wars toy is a very exciting moment, how ever old you are. The first time it happened to me was when I was 11-years-old, in 'Return of the Jedi' and, you know, as a young boy being actually (to) have a toy of yourself is a mind blowing experience." COLLECTIBLE STAR WARS DOLLS ON DISPLAY COLLECTIBLE OF "JANNAH", PLAYED BY ACTRESS NAOMI ACKIE, ON DISPLAY STAR WARS COLLECTIBLES ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, NAOMI ACKIE, SAYING: "It's crazy, yeah. I don't know, how does it feel to be…you know, you just concentrate on the job at hand and you try and work really hard. And obviously there's a lot of eyes on this project and there's a lot of eyes on "Game of Thrones" (Prequel) and you just hope that you can live up to people's expectations, you know. But it's a time of celebration, yeah, definitely." NEW STAR WARS MERCHANDISE ON DISPLAY DROIDS ON DISPLAY STAR WARS ACTION FIGURINES ON DISPLAY GOLD CHEWBACCA FIGURE ON DISPLAY RED STORMTROOPER HELMET ON DISPLAY GUEST LOOKING AT DISPLAY WITH SWEATERS AND RED STORMTROOPER COSTUME (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTOR, JOONAS SUOTAMO, SAYING: "It's an honour to carry on the legacy that Peter (Mayhew) started, playing this memorable, beloved character of Chewbacca and to me, I want to make Peter proud and do his work justice in this last instalment. I couldn't imagine that he wouldn't be proud to see this last movie and feel that Chewbacca is going forward and we are getting to see him again, come December." STAR WARS TRIPLE FORCE FRIDAY REVEAL EVENT IN PROGRESS AT PINEWOOD STUDIOS STAR WARS HELMET ON DISPLAY LIGHTSABERS ON DISPLAY "D-O" DROID ON DISPLAY VARIOUS OF LEGO STAR WARS SETS ON DISPLAY (SOUNDBITE) (English) ACTRESS, NAOMI ACKIE, SAYING: (ASKED IF SHE'S REVEALED PLOT POINTS OF THE RISE OF SKYWALKER) "Oh my gosh, so many slip questions here and there while I'm having conversations with my family and friends. I've managed so far not to give out any spoilers so I'm pretty proud of myself for that. And I mean, I kept it secret for four months when I found out I got it (the role), you know, so, I'm pretty well practised in keeping secrets."
- Embargoed: 10th October 2019 23:50
- Keywords: Star Wars product launch Triple Force Friday Pinewood Studios Warwick Davis Joonas Suotamo Naomi Ackie
- Location: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- City: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM AND VARIOUS FILM LOCATIONS
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment
- Reuters ID: LVA001AYAODI1
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Actors from "Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker" returned to Pinewood Studios on Thursday (September 26) to promote merchandise available on "Triple Force Friday", an event created by Disney to boost tie-in product sales even before the movie premieres in December.
Walt Disney Co., which paid $4.05 billion for Star Wars production company Lucasfilm in 2012, held the first "Force Friday" in 2015 ahead of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens".
The 2019 event has been expanded to includes tie-ins inspired by "The Mandalorian", the first Star Wars live-action series that will debut on streaming service Disney+ in November, and "Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order", a forthcoming video game.
The launch event at Pinewood Studios, where the new film was shot, was hosted by Warwick Davis, who started his career in 1983 release "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi".
"As an actor in Star Wars, the first time you see yourself immortalised as a Star Wars toy is a very exciting moment, however old you are," he told Reuters.
"The first time it happened to me was when I was 11-years-old in 'Return of the Jedi', and as a young boy to actually have a toy of yourself is a mind-blowing experience."
Naomi Ackie, a Star Wars newcomer who plays the role of 'Jannah' in the movie, said it was "super surreal" to see the bobble-head version of her character for the first time.
The actress, who is currently filming the upcoming "Game of Thrones" prequel, said she had so far managed to keep tight-lipped and not reveal any details about the new Star Wars movie.
Her co-star, Joonas Suotamo, took on the role of Chewbacca, famously played by actor Peter Mayhew, who passed away in April this year.
"It's an honour to carry on the legacy that Peter started, playing this memorable, beloved character of Chewbacca and to me, I want to make Peter proud and do his work justice in this last installment. I couldn't imagine that he wouldn't be proud to see this last movie and feel that Chewbacca is going forward and we are getting to see him again, come December," the Finnish actor and former basketball player said.
"Triple Force Friday" will be marked globally on October 4, 2019.
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