Hasbro launched a new version of Star Wars Monopoly, and in doing so they have created a great disturbance in the force. Once again, they have left out Rey, the main character from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, and included no other women in the set.
The game description on the Hasbro web site says:
Includes Episode VII and Legacy tokens
Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker represent the “Legacy” tokens — fair enough, I guess. But the Episode VII tokens are villain Kylo Ren and … second lead Finn. The choice to exclude the main character of Rey yet again is not only puzzling for logistical reasons, it deprives gamers of the opportunity to play as a woman. (Adding more tokens so we could include Han and Leia would have been a great choice.)
Many retailers are marketing this as Star Wars: The Force Awakens Monopoly. How will parents explain to their daughters that the main character from the movie is not an option for them when they play the game?
Reaction has been swift and brutal on social media, but perhaps no one put it as eloquently as this little girl.
8 yr old asks, How could you leave out Rey in SW Monopoly? @LetToysBeToys @HasbroNews @PigtailPals #WheresRey pic.twitter.com/EnOs56PQE5
— Carrie Goldman (@CarrieMGoldman) January 4, 2016
We’re not sure if Hasbro thinks that girls don’t play Monopoly or that they don’t like Star Wars. Both assumptions are incorrect. It’s 2016, Hasbro. Time to get with the program.
h/t Legion of Leia
Finn was a ringer character to pull the twist on viewers. I’d say them showing Finn instead of Rey is just an attempt to avoid spoilers since these probably came out before the movie during forcefriday. You can’t really say Hasbro isn’t trying. Their marvel and star wars action figure lines are flooded with female characters right now that are warming pegs. They are trying. You can’t blame Hasbro if the products don’t get sold if they do try. This one is say is either the brand manager choice or trying to keep them spoiler free.
And btw I buy my little girl marvel/disney/tmnt/Star wars/barbie/anything in between so I’m definitely not against the idea at all.
The female Marvel characters warming the pegs are the same ones that have never appeared in a film. On the other hand, Gamora and Black Widow were perpetually sold out.
Leia was nowhere near as plot-centric as Rey. The only figure I remember clogging shelves was that hideous. Slave Girl Leia Black Figure. It was ugly as sin. so adult collectors avoided it, and what kid – boy or girl — wants the slave girl in a metal bikini figure?
The teaser trailer, poster and other toys had all been released confirming Rey’s centrality to the plot. Including her figure would not have ruined anything unless you stuck a lightsaber in her hand.
Rey was in the advertising for the movie – I don’t buy for a second that Hasbro was attempting to avoid spoilers.
But nobody outside those directly involved with the film knew if she or Finn would be the lead. I don’t think Hasbro was attempting to avoid spoilers, they simply were not informed.
They knew. They’ve admitted they knew. Toy makers are informed in very general terms of the main characters and plot of a movie. They sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. I’ve signed them myself when I’ve done market consulting.
I’ve interviewed Paul Southern at Lucasfilm. Rey’s prominence was not kept secret from licencors.