UPDATE: Hasbro has announced that a Rey playing piece will be added to a new version of Star Wars Monopoly coming out later this year. The toy company released a statement after fan outcry the character's exclusion from the games saying,
We love the passion fans have for Rey, and are happy to announce that we will be making a running change to include her in the Monopoly: Star Wars game available later this year
Good to see the mistake being rectified and Hasbro actually listening to fans. Still, the whole situation could have easily been avoided by including the main character of The Force Awakens in the Monopoly game.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Hasbro has released a statement responding to the criticism it has received regarding the Star Wars Monopoly game released to coincide with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the lack of a Rey playing piece. The exclusion of Rey is just the latest in a long line of female characters being under represented in toy lines. Though things have been better with Rey (and Phasma) with the The Force Awakens merchandise than with other franchises (like the lack of Black Widow action figures when Avengers: Age of Ultron), there is still plenty of room for improvement. And it is troubling that the main character of the film was not included in the Monopoly game, (the game comes with Luke, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, and Finn playing pieces). This has led to the hashtag #WheresRey being created to raise awareness about this issue.
We love the passion fans have for Rey, and are happy to announce that we will be making a running change to include her in the Monopoly: Star Wars game available later this year
Good to see the mistake being rectified and Hasbro actually listening to fans. Still, the whole situation could have easily been avoided by including the main character of The Force Awakens in the Monopoly game.
ORIGINAL STORY:
Hasbro has released a statement responding to the criticism it has received regarding the Star Wars Monopoly game released to coincide with the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the lack of a Rey playing piece. The exclusion of Rey is just the latest in a long line of female characters being under represented in toy lines. Though things have been better with Rey (and Phasma) with the The Force Awakens merchandise than with other franchises (like the lack of Black Widow action figures when Avengers: Age of Ultron), there is still plenty of room for improvement. And it is troubling that the main character of the film was not included in the Monopoly game, (the game comes with Luke, Darth Vader, Kylo Ren, and Finn playing pieces). This has led to the hashtag #WheresRey being created to raise awareness about this issue.
Hasbro responded to the criticism in a statement to Entertainment Weekly, saying,
"The Star Wars: Monopoly game was released in September, months before the movie’s release, and Rey was not included to avoid revealing a key plot line that she takes on Kylo Ren and joins the Rebel Alliance."
I will say, that's a pretty weak response. They could have easily included a Rey playing piece with her wielding her Jakku staff, rather than the lightsaber to preserve the reveal in the film. Granted, not every character needs to be included in every product, but when something like the Monopoly game is representing the whole galaxy, to not include a main character like Rey in the game seems like a dramatic oversight. It's also troubling when you look at it in the larger conversation surrounding the lack of female characters as toys in the industry in general.
#WheresRey?
Source: Entertainment Weekly
Follow The Star Wars Underworld on Twitter @TheSWU for more updates about this story and other breaking Star Wars news.
Honestly it's not a big deal. How is Rey omitted from several sets of toys? Their is a 6 inch Black Series Figure , 2 Disney Store Elite Series Figures and a lot of 3.75 inch figures of Rey plus their is a 12 inch Rey figure coming soon. Marvel had the same issue with the lack of Black Widow Toys this is nothing new. And I do agree not having The Rebels Hera and Sabine figures at launch was an issue and they where are to find. The bottom line is yes there could be more Rey figures out and sure that's the fault of the toy makers to a degree but to say there is not a lot. Their is a lot of Rey toys and figures. I don't see why this is a big issue to some because to me it will work itself out
ReplyDeleteIt IS a big deal. Your MAIN character from the new film is OMITTED?! Unacceptable. Gender issue aside, their "explanation" is weak-sauce: "Rey was not included to avoid revealing a key plot line that she takes on Kylo Ren". Then why is Finn included? He takes on Kylo as well, and in promotional material, both Rey + Finn were pictured in the snowy forest together where the confrontation happens.
ReplyDeleteThere should be a mail-away figure provided with proof of purchase to correct this oversight.
Yup she is THE most important character in the film ffs!
ReplyDeleteThe argument then could be at the time we just knew Finn as a stormtroooer, and not a key part to the resistance...
ReplyDelete@joel monarrez that's because Finn was hinted to be the new character to become a Jedi, so including him doesn't actually spoil anything, but including Rey would, because since there's only 4 pieces and Darth Vader is on one side, it would be quite odd to add Rey instead of Luke.
ReplyDeleteHasbro has not answered why Rey wasn't included. They answered why Finn was a better fit. And it's a perfectly understandable reason.
You all are literally complaining about this because it's a girl, don't even try to disguise it as "muh main chracter". I love Rey, but stop the white knighting.
As if they seriously couldn't find more petty things to whine about...
ReplyDeleteThis is an affront to all that is good and decent. I may not sleep tonight. Obviously we need a federal department of toy equity to ensure every toyline satisfies a sex & gender quotant as dictated by a tribunal of chubby, green haired feminists.
ReplyDeleteOr, when Hasblo churns out a lame product that sucks, just don't buy it and STFU about muh patriarchy.
Well said.
DeleteThey can always release a second edition of the game with Rey in it and satisfy the critics.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't having Finn as joining the Rebel Alliance also reveal a spoiler about him?
ReplyDeleteHello there, I uncovered your web site by way of Bing at the same time looking for a similar matter, your website showed up, this indicates excellent. I've got included with favorites|added to my favorites. clash of clans hack
ReplyDelete