Plastic in the Star Wars universe — the sequel

Somehow, I have returned.

Happy May Fourth! It's the one day a year where I take my constant Star Wars ramblings my co-workers are subjected to daily and impose them on the Plastics News Kickstart audience. And try to make it a little bit plasticky.

This year might be a little less plastic and maybe a little less Star Wars, as Managing Editor Rhoda Miel covered the most recent news showing up in the "Star Wars + plastics" Google search.

It's fine, you know. Star Wars is for everyone. But maybe next year I'll find some bicycle aspect to write about. *wink, wink*

In addition to the hordes of stuff up for sale for the holiday, memorabilia from the original Mandalorian, Jeremy Bulloch, aka Boba Fett, went up for auction this morning in the United Kingdom. Bulloch played the iconic bounty hunter in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi.

Bulloch died in 2020, but he amassed a collection of Boba Fett memorabilia, everything from official Star Wars merch to fan-made items like a steel helmet lined with foam for wearing.

The hot ticket item is expected to be Bulloch's own Boba Fett action figure, valued at more than $1,000.

On the topic of Mandalorians, dressing up like your favorite armored Star Wars characters is getting easier, cheaper and higher quality thanks to the accessibility of 3D printing.

Cosplaying, or dressing up as a character from a movie, book or video game, is more popular than ever and considered less of a "nerd" thing to do. It's also more respected as an artform. There are tons of fabricators and 3D printers on Instagram who make magnificent, screen-accurate Mando armor.

It has my husband and I eyeballing 3D printers and resin prices in our spare time. Maybe by the next May 4, I'll have my own suit of Mandalorian armor, crafted from my own stash of resin.

Millions of voices cried out in joy upon seeing director Greta Gerwig's latest trailer for the upcoming Barbie movie. Self included.

It's not every day your favorite childhood toy becomes a major motion picture.

It's a bit of a switch up from Star Wars, but of course we know its a toy giant. And yep, they made Star Wars Barbie-esque dolls too. These dolls share the same scale as Barbie, but they're not as popular among collectors (something something, fanboys). The 12-inch scale goes back to 1978, where the first wave only had six figures. And two of those were droids!

I collect the 12" Padmé Amidala fashion doll wave from The Phantom Menace era. But Padmé and the other Star Wars dolls lack Barbie's signature arched feet. Makes sense as Padmé wears mules or boots, much more appropriate for hyperspace travel, though occasionally Barbie's arches get a break.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed your involuntary break from all our hard-hitting plastics coverage — this party's over.

Erin Sloan is the audience engagement editor for Plastics News. Find her on LinkedIn.

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