If this "anonymous source" at Lucasfilm is correct, and the dearth of Rey-oriented toys, games, clothing, etc. was driven from Lucasfilm/Disney itself, that would be deeply irritating. Of course, the Disney merchandising execs have a mindset of Boy Stuff (Pirates!) vs Girl Stuff (Princesses!), but it's still gobsmacking that a movie that so prominently featured a female protagonist would be so fumbled.
Or is it?
'Corroborating the Lucasfilm insider’s assertions is John Marcotte, founder of the non-profit Heroic Girls. “I’ve spoken with Disney people, and they were completely blindsided by the reaction to the new Star Wars characters,” he tells Boehm. “They put a huge investment into marketing and merchandizing the Kylo Ren character. They presumed he would be the big breakout role from the film. They were completely surprised when it was Rey everyone identified with and wanted to see more of. Now they’re stuck with vast amounts of Kylo Ren product that is not moving, and a tidal wave of complaints about a lack of Rey items.”'
Kylo Ren? Emo Vader-wannabe? He was meant to be the breakout character? He is the true protagonist-of-focus in the movie?
Well … that's not beyond reason. Certainly a number of the emotional heartbeats in the story as it showed up on the screen focus on KR. And if the original two trilogies were about the Fall and Rise of Anakin Skywalker / Darth Vader, someone might have intentionally designed things such that Kylo Ren would be the core character in the third trilogy.
Worth some discussion over a few beers, at least.
If this whole thing is accurate, let's hope that the rumors about why the next movie is seeing some rewriting is in reaction to how Rey (and Finn) have taken off as characters, and (once again) hope that, come Star Wars VIII, we don't have to ask "Where's Rey" again.
Report: ‘Star Wars’ toymakers were ‘specifically directed’ to exclude Rey
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