The Untold Story of Kenner's Star Wars Revival Attempt: The Epic Continues
In the wake of the original Star Wars Trilogy's release, it quickly became apparent that the galaxy far, far away was starting to lose its cultural boldness and financial flair. Despite the astonishing success Kenner had in toy sales following the films, where they moved 40 million units in both 1978 and 1979, the spark was fading. After "Return of the Jedi," with no new films announced, the lightsaber began to dim for the franchise. This was a troubling moment for Kenner toys and Lucasfilm, leading them to brainstorm ways to rekindle interest in Star Wars.
In this context of desperation, Kenner convened a meeting to save the franchise, pitching an ambitious animated show that would later be titled "The Epic Continues." Although the show never materialized, remnants of this proposal live on in Kenner's concept book filled with exciting ideas, including story elements pertaining to the Clone Wars and what transpired after the Empire's defeat.
After the final credits rolled on the original trilogy, Lucasfilm's attention turned to other projects. Two animated TV spin-offs, "Droids" and "Ewoks," aimed to keep the flame alive, yet the low-budget productions failed to capture the imagination of both kids and collectors, resulting in their cancellation by 1986. Ultimately, it became evident that children were drifting away from the Star Wars universe, echoing concerns about the long-term viability of Kenner's toy line.
Realizing the need for a revitalization campaign, Kenner's creative team began work on their pitch for "The Epic Continues." Led by product designer Tim Effler, the team conjured a new villain, aop Primy, tasked with breathing life back into the franchise. Effler developed a rich backstory for this villain long before any sequels or prequels were considered, marking an early conceptualization of the Clone Wars mentioned briefly in the original film.
The concept book unveiled an impressive array of designs, including the first-ever depiction of the Clone Trooper, who would engage in battles against Kenobi, Anakin, and the Jedi. Accompanying this narrative was an ambitious plan to have Primy return from exile, ready to engage the remaining members of the Rebel Alliance with his advanced Clone Army. In addition to this, Kenner sought to redeem past oversights by bringing back iconic characters like Grand Moff Tarkin into the narrative—despite having missed toy releases during the original trilogy.
Kenner aimed to replicate the successful formula of other toy companies in the 1980s, like Hasbro, by linking their toy line closely with the animated show. Featured in this ambitious project were brand new vehicles and characters designed to grab the attention of young audiences, ensuring toys were as fresh as the animated content that complemented them. Even familiar characters were given a welcome makeover; Han Solo adorned in a turtleneck and Luke Skywalker wielded a red lightsaber, providing enough novelty to entice a new generation of fans.
Despite the inventive pitch featuring an incredible array of new toys, vehicles, and story arcs aimed to invigorate the Star Wars franchise, Lucasfilm ultimately turned down Kenner's proposal. This rejection marked a pivotal point; without the chance to breathe life into "The Epic Continues," Kenner's Star Wars toy line was ultimately shut down in 1986, leading to the scrapping of all accompanying projects. Lucasfilm opted to invest its resources elsewhere, turning a disinterested gaze away from their once-beloved galactic universe.
The story ends here, but one can't help but ponder what could have happened if Kenner's vision had been embraced. Would "The Epic Continues" have flourished in a similar fashion to other beloved projects, embedding itself into the hearts and minds of a new generation of children? Perhaps marketing an animated series alongside a fresh toy line could have rejuvenated interest in Star Wars, leading to an enduring legacy that built upon the original films rather than fading into obscurity.
In conclusion, while Kenner's ambitious plan never came to fruition, it encapsulates a pivotal moment in the Star Wars legacy and illustrates how close the franchise was to potentially expanding into new territory through innovative storytelling and product design. We may never know what could have been, but the echoes of "The Epic Continues" serve as a fascinating footnote in the history of a franchise that has continued to evolve and captivate audiences to this day.
Part 1/9:
The Untold Story of Kenner's Star Wars Revival Attempt: The Epic Continues
In the wake of the original Star Wars Trilogy's release, it quickly became apparent that the galaxy far, far away was starting to lose its cultural boldness and financial flair. Despite the astonishing success Kenner had in toy sales following the films, where they moved 40 million units in both 1978 and 1979, the spark was fading. After "Return of the Jedi," with no new films announced, the lightsaber began to dim for the franchise. This was a troubling moment for Kenner toys and Lucasfilm, leading them to brainstorm ways to rekindle interest in Star Wars.
The Meeting That Could Have Changed Everything
Part 2/9:
In this context of desperation, Kenner convened a meeting to save the franchise, pitching an ambitious animated show that would later be titled "The Epic Continues." Although the show never materialized, remnants of this proposal live on in Kenner's concept book filled with exciting ideas, including story elements pertaining to the Clone Wars and what transpired after the Empire's defeat.
The Declining Interest
Part 3/9:
After the final credits rolled on the original trilogy, Lucasfilm's attention turned to other projects. Two animated TV spin-offs, "Droids" and "Ewoks," aimed to keep the flame alive, yet the low-budget productions failed to capture the imagination of both kids and collectors, resulting in their cancellation by 1986. Ultimately, it became evident that children were drifting away from the Star Wars universe, echoing concerns about the long-term viability of Kenner's toy line.
A Bold Proposal Emerges
Part 4/9:
Realizing the need for a revitalization campaign, Kenner's creative team began work on their pitch for "The Epic Continues." Led by product designer Tim Effler, the team conjured a new villain, aop Primy, tasked with breathing life back into the franchise. Effler developed a rich backstory for this villain long before any sequels or prequels were considered, marking an early conceptualization of the Clone Wars mentioned briefly in the original film.
Innovative Designs and Characters
Part 5/9:
The concept book unveiled an impressive array of designs, including the first-ever depiction of the Clone Trooper, who would engage in battles against Kenobi, Anakin, and the Jedi. Accompanying this narrative was an ambitious plan to have Primy return from exile, ready to engage the remaining members of the Rebel Alliance with his advanced Clone Army. In addition to this, Kenner sought to redeem past oversights by bringing back iconic characters like Grand Moff Tarkin into the narrative—despite having missed toy releases during the original trilogy.
The Interplay of Toys and Cartoons
Part 6/9:
Kenner aimed to replicate the successful formula of other toy companies in the 1980s, like Hasbro, by linking their toy line closely with the animated show. Featured in this ambitious project were brand new vehicles and characters designed to grab the attention of young audiences, ensuring toys were as fresh as the animated content that complemented them. Even familiar characters were given a welcome makeover; Han Solo adorned in a turtleneck and Luke Skywalker wielded a red lightsaber, providing enough novelty to entice a new generation of fans.
The Shattering of Hopes
Part 7/9:
Despite the inventive pitch featuring an incredible array of new toys, vehicles, and story arcs aimed to invigorate the Star Wars franchise, Lucasfilm ultimately turned down Kenner's proposal. This rejection marked a pivotal point; without the chance to breathe life into "The Epic Continues," Kenner's Star Wars toy line was ultimately shut down in 1986, leading to the scrapping of all accompanying projects. Lucasfilm opted to invest its resources elsewhere, turning a disinterested gaze away from their once-beloved galactic universe.
A What-If Scenario
Part 8/9:
The story ends here, but one can't help but ponder what could have happened if Kenner's vision had been embraced. Would "The Epic Continues" have flourished in a similar fashion to other beloved projects, embedding itself into the hearts and minds of a new generation of children? Perhaps marketing an animated series alongside a fresh toy line could have rejuvenated interest in Star Wars, leading to an enduring legacy that built upon the original films rather than fading into obscurity.
Part 9/9:
In conclusion, while Kenner's ambitious plan never came to fruition, it encapsulates a pivotal moment in the Star Wars legacy and illustrates how close the franchise was to potentially expanding into new territory through innovative storytelling and product design. We may never know what could have been, but the echoes of "The Epic Continues" serve as a fascinating footnote in the history of a franchise that has continued to evolve and captivate audiences to this day.