Arguably more than any other film franchise, Star Wars is a merchandising giant and has a wide range of tie-in products available for consumers eager to bring home a piece of the galaxy far, far away. In the new Disney era, the unveiling of Star Wars memorabilia has been turned into an unofficial holiday (Force Friday) as fans count down the days until the next movie and add to their already expansive collections. With the Mouse House planning to produce more installments for the foreseeable future, there's no telling how long this can go on.
Unsurprisingly, Star Wars fans are very serious about the beloved property, and Lucasfilm has looked to capitalize on that fact with some of their recent merchandising decisions. Over the summer, the studio launched an official Star Wars prop store that offered authentic premium replicas of items seen in The Force Awakens. Now, for moviegoers who are on a slightly tighter budget, a new Lucasfilm sanctioned shop has opened - one that sells official still photos and autographs.
A release on starwars.com announced starwarsauthentics.com, a partnership between Lucasfilm, Topps, and Authenticators, Inc. The images come exclusively from Lucasfilm's library of pictures, which fans can easily order to hang on their walls. As expected, prices vary. Movie photos run between $9.99 and $79.99 (depending on if the individual wants it pre-framed), while the autographs are obviously more expensive. Sizes available are 8x10 and 16x20. All Star Wars films released to date (including Rogue One) are represented in the store, and there will surely be others added as more movies premiere. You can browse around by clicking the link above.
David Leiner, Topps' general manager and vice president of the North American Sports and Entertainment division, stated that the company "identified a hole in the entertainment industry, a need for certified authentic pieces for the Star Wars brand," which spearheaded the initiative. Disney is undoubtedly excited by the launch, as the studio's Senior Vice President of Star Wars Licensing Paul Southern said the program will "allow us to provide Star Wars fans with access to autographs of their favorite talent." Those who follow Mark Hamill on Twitter know that the actor frequently points out autographed cards that are fake, so knowing that these come straight from the source will certainly put collectors' minds at ease.
With a variety of pictures to choose from, there's clearly something for all Star Wars fans here. Whether you prefer the original trilogy, enjoy the prequels, or came on board thanks to the more modern films, you're bound to find at least one or two photos to decorate your living space. As most things Star Wars, these will likely sell very well, so our advice would be to place orders quickly before supplies run out.
Source: starwars.com
