A new set of tie-in merchandise from Star Wars: The Last Jedi offers intriguing updates on some familiar characters. With yesterday's EW coverage for Episode VIII, we've been treated to an onslaught of new information regarding the upcoming film. A new set of images from the film highlighted the ensemble, and interviews with the cast and crew have led to a number of revelations about the characters and plot.

We know that when The Last Jedi opens, the Resistance will be dealing with external threats and inner turmoil. After months of mystery, today also brought some information about Benicio del Toro's new character DJ. Most intriguingly of all, writer and director Rian Johnson teased that the new film will dive deep into the ancient history of the Jedi Order. Of course, as the movie's release gets closer and more information arrives, certain aspects of the film are bound to leak out in unexpected ways. Generally, tie-in merchandise and toys provide early looks at new characters for blockbusters, and The Last Jedi is no different.

PCO Group (h/t Making Star Wars) has just released some in-theater figures that will be part of their concession stand line. Among the characters present are Rey, BB-8, and one of Snoke's Red Guards. More interestingly, however, are a new Executioner Stormtrooper and the black-and-silver BB-9.

It's fitting that MSW discovered the merchandise, as they first brought word last year of the Executioner Stormtrooper and earlier this year teased the potentially evil version of BB-8. While there's no telling if BB-9 is in fact nefarious, its look certainly is more menacing than that of the cute droid from The Force Awakens.

The Executioner Stormtrooper, meanwhile, seems to be part of a continued effort to make the soldiers more menacing, something we saw with TR-8R in The Force Awakens and the Death Troopers in Rogue One. We saw a tease of the character in some fan art a few months ago, but the new figure offers the best idea of how the trooper will appear in the film.

As we get closer to the release of The Last Jedi, more toys, costumes, and other merchandise will likely continue to tease certain elements and spoil others. Of course, Lucasfilm's secrecy regarding the new movie will ensure plenty of surprises remain when The Last Jedi hits theaters later this year.

Next: Poe Dameron is a 'Surrogate Son' to Leia in Star Wars 8

Source: PCO Group (h/t Making Star Wars)

Key Release Dates