‘Forces Of Destiny’ To Highlight Female ‘Star Wars’ Heroes In Animation And Toys
Star Warswill address head-on the #WheresRey controversy, in which action figures of theStar Wars: The Force Awakensmain character played byDaisy Ridleywere nowhere to be found compared to toys of the male characters.
Not only will girls get action figures ofRey, Leia Organa, Padme Amidalaand all their other favorite female heroes inStar Wars,they’ll be getting female-driven short-form animation, children’s books, and apparel as part of a new multi-part campaign calledStar Wars: Forces of Destiny.
Launching this summer,Forces of Destinyaims to expand the sci-fi saga’s audience in eight new 2D animated shorts that highlight its growing ensemble of female characters. The central figures in the shorts, which will debut on Disney’s YouTube in July, are Princess Leia from the original trilogy era, Padmé Amidala from the prequels, Rey fromThe Force Awakens,Rogue One’s Jyn Erso, and three standouts from the animatedRebelsseries: the Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren, Force-sensitive Jedi Ahsoka Tano, and Twi’lek pilot Hera Syndulla.
The Animation
“Star Wars: Forces of Destinyis for anyone who has been inspired by Leia’s heroism, Rey’s courage, or Ahsoka’s tenacity,” said Lucasfilm PresidentKathleen Kennedyin a release announcingForces of Destiny.
The animated shorts will all be canonical, with some of the heroes appearing in crossover shorts with each other, though some of them are separated by different timelines. Some of the mini adventures include Rey saving BB-8 on Jakku and Leia rescuing Chewbacca from a Wampa (the big, furry monster seen inThe Empire Strikes Back) on Hoth .
Carrie Beck, an executive producer of the shorts and a member of the Lucasfilm story group braintrust, toldEntertainment Weeklythat this is more than just a marketing opportunity –Forces of Destinyis a chance to expand upon characters who can carry solo adventures on their shoulders:
Many of the original actresses will be returning to voice their beloved characters, withDaisy Ridleyplaying desert scavenger Rey in stories set within the arc ofThe Force AwakensandFelicity Jonesresurrecting Jyn Erso for adventures that pre-date the events ofRogue One.
Rebelsvoice actressesTiya SircarandAshley Ecksteinwill voice heroic bounty hunter Sabine Wren and Ahsoka Tano respectively, whileVanessa Marshallwill play the swaggering Hera Syndulla.Lupita Nyong’owill also be returning to voice orange alien sage Maz Kanata fromThe Force Awakens. With the passing of Carrie Fisher,Shelby Youngwill voice Princess Leia, andCatherine Taberwill be taking over for Natalie Portman in the role of Padmé Amidala, reprising her work inThe Clone Wars.
Kennedy praised the voice actresses, who in the video preview ofForces of Destiny, seemed proud to reprise their roles for the small screen for a campaign aimed primarily at girls:
We’re thrilled that so many of the original actors are reprising their roles in these shorts which capture the small moments and everyday decisions that shape who these characters are. It is a fun new way for people to experienceStar Wars.
Most importantly,Forces of Destinywill add to the ongoing conversation about female representation by releasing a new line of Hasbro “Adventure Figure” toys that aim to blend the qualities of traditional dolls (11-inch height, rooted hair, changeable outfits) with old-school action figures (weapon accessories, battle attacks, swingable lightsaber). They’ll also come packaged with their own sidekicks — Rey is joined by BB-8 while Hoth Base Leia comes with R2-D2.
“From Princess Leia to Sabine Wren,Star Warsheroines are unique, and we wanted to represent that in the product line forStar Wars Forces of Destiny,” said Jimmy Pitaro, Chairman, Disney Consumer Products and Interactive Media.
Most of the single figures are priced at $19.99, but some come in more elaborate playsets, retailing for $24.99.
Disney and Hasbro met a storm of criticism in December 2015, when holiday toy releases ofForce Awakenscharacter revealed a lack of Rey action figures, causing #WheresRey to trend on Twitter and for director J.J. Abrams to call the situation “preposterous and wrong.“Forces of Destinyis meant to right those wrongs, and bring young girls into a fandom in which they may have previously felt unwelcome — while still telling universal stories that appeal to all ages and genders.
Star WarsCelebration in Orlando will give fans a sneak peak ofStar Wars Forces of Destinyduring the “Heroines ofStar Wars” panel on April 14.
