According to multiple sources from around the web, all of the
Indiana Jones themed toy lines are coming to an end relatively soon. It sounds like all previously announced
Indiana Jones Mighty Muggs waves have been canceled, but I am not sure if this also applies to the
EE Exclusive Mighty Muggs figures or not.
Most movie themed toy lines don’t typically survive once the films they are based on leave the theaters, but I thought these would at least make it until
the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released on DVD. I believe there had been some hope that Indy would prove to have stronger staying power than previous franchises and Hasbro would be able to carry on producing the various toy lines centered around the Harrison Ford character.
But, no matter how popular a movie is its toy line is sure to fail eventually. Just look at the
Pirates of the Caribbean,
Lord of the Rings and
Harry Potter films, combined those movie franchises have grossed billions, but you’d be hard pressed to find their action figures on store shelves today. The fact that
Indiana Jones action figures have taken up so much shelf space the past six months actually says a lot about the character’s (and Harrison Ford’s) pop cultural significance. How many other 60 year actors could be selling this many toys of a WWII era hero? Definitely not Arnold or Stallone!
The only movie franchises with real staying power has proven to be Star Wars and DC Comics/Marvel Comics’ super heroes, but that is primarily based on those properties’ abilities to expand into other formats in order to sustain their characters' popularities. Unfortunately this is something Lucas has been unable to do with Indiana Jones. If only they had come out with an animated series!
Most movie themed toy lines don’t typically survive once the films they are based on leave the theaters, but I thought these would at least make it until the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull was released on DVD. I believe there had been some hope that Indy would prove to have stronger staying power than previous franchises and Hasbro would be able to carry on producing the various toy lines centered around the Harrison Ford character.
But, no matter how popular a movie is its toy line is sure to fail eventually. Just look at the Pirates of the Caribbean, Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter films, combined those movie franchises have grossed billions, but you’d be hard pressed to find their action figures on store shelves today. The fact that Indiana Jones action figures have taken up so much shelf space the past six months actually says a lot about the character’s (and Harrison Ford’s) pop cultural significance. How many other 60 year actors could be selling this many toys of a WWII era hero? Definitely not Arnold or Stallone!
The only movie franchises with real staying power has proven to be Star Wars and DC Comics/Marvel Comics’ super heroes, but that is primarily based on those properties’ abilities to expand into other formats in order to sustain their characters' popularities. Unfortunately this is something Lucas has been unable to do with Indiana Jones. If only they had come out with an animated series!
