I do think it is interesting from a marketing perspective. Are artistic integrity and marketability fundamentally separate things? Can a franchise flick be substantive, but also be a vehicle for merchandising?

I think a number of factors are at play, but I wonder if the secrecy surrounding the production of these films have made them more difficult for companies like Hasbro to make toys that are consistent with the final product (here’s looking at you, Constable Zuvio).

I will be interested to see if we get any Mandalorian toys during this year’s Force Friday. It seems like a perfect opportunity to make cool toys of bounty hunters and grimy stormtroopers. If we don’t see much toys, it’ll make me wonder if there is some failure to take opportunities to merchandise the content that is available.

This is another reason why I think an Old Republic setting for future movies would be great. That time period is ripe for the imagination, full of Sith, Jedi and other mysteries. Exotic aliens and ships. Tons of opportunities for toys, if they make them.