Star Wars: Prototypes and Production

Star Wars: Prototypes and Production

Star Wars: Prototypes and Production is a podcast that provides an in-depth look into the Star Wars films, TV series, and books we love. It also covers the Kenner and Hasbro toys, and examines the process of those toys, from concepts to prototypes to the ones that made it to the toy stores! Join host David Quinn on a journey with fellow collectors to learn more about Star Wars and the fascinating hobby of collecting Star Wars toys. This is the wonder of a galaxy far, far away. And this is Star Wars: Prototypes and Production!

Episodes

December 5, 2025 92 mins
On the eve of this year’s exciting Sithmas event, let’s travel back to the winter of 2023, for a conversation about how this multi-club event began: How does a Star Wars meetup become a holiday tradition? Every year, Pennsylvanian collector Mike De Stefano hosts Sithmas, a weekend event that celebrates Star Wars and the holidays. The weekend kicks off with a Friday night meal, followed by Saturday’s main event. The day is pack...
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If you were Lucasfilm’s leader, what would you do to turn around the flailing franchise? What changes would you make to reignite the passionate fanbase again? Which projects would you select to pave the path for a successful onscreen future? And if you can envision a logical and reasonable plan, why is Lucasfilm struggling to do so? Join host David Quinn as he produces a realistic strategy to deliver consistent and quality stor...
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The Mandalorian returns in 2026. However, in place of a fourth season of the beloved series, Din Djarin is destined for theaters, marking the first Star Wars movie in seven years. And he won’t be traveling alone. According to Disney’s newly-released trailer, his little pal Grogu is taking center stage, as the media company attempts to revive the galactic brand, to reignite a once-passionate fanbase, and to create a billion-dolla...
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After soaring to the stratosphere over the past decade, the legendary Star Wars prototype has returned to earth in 2025. A Rocket-Firing Boba Fett, the first version of the figure Kenner created but never released, crossed the million-dollar mark at auction in the summer of 2024. In December, one hand-painted example sold for $275,000. Six months later, at a June Goldin auction, a similar variant failed to generate interest, a...
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One of the best toy shows on the east coast is ending its run in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Next year, The Toys For The Ages Expo is moving to an all-new facility in Gettysburg, but the July show was a fitting way to say goodbye, in a spectacular way. The Expo always offers some of the most desirable items for toy collectors, spanning many vintage and modern toy lines. And for Star Wars fans, the show was packed with rare carded ...
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One of the best toy shows on the east coast is ending its run in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Next year, The Toys For The Ages Expo is moving to an all-new facility in Gettysburg, but last weekend’s show was a fitting way to say goodbye, and was a spectacular event. The Expo always offers some of the most desirable items for toy collectors, spanning many vintage and modern toy lines. And for Star Wars fans, the show was packed with r...
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For Star Wars fans and toy collectors, a day at The Maryland Toy Expo is a fantastic way to kick off the summer season. On June 14th, thousands of attendees traveled to the town of Timonium from various surrounding states, in the hopes of finding a special item from the Star Wars universe and from many other toy lines. And the Expo had plenty of them. For Star Wars fans, the one-day show offered more than 300 vendor tables pac...
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Why is The Maryland Toy Expo one of the best toy shows on the east coast for Star Wars collectors? The summer toy show season kicked off in a major way, with a June trip to the town of Timonium for The Maryland Toy Expo. The Expo offered Star Wars and toy collectors the opportunity to hunt for Kenner and Hasbro items across two massive buildings, featuring more than 300 vendor tables packed with carded and loose figures, protot...
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The main event is finally here. And it’s the pinnacle of one of the greatest Star Wars collectors weekends ever. In May of 2024, 200 collectors traveled to Kennesaw, Georgia for Rogue Fun, a multi-day Star Wars trip centering on collecting and connecting. And on Saturday, May the Fourth, the Georgia Alliance hosted a 7-hour ballroom event, featuring dinner, room sales and five incredible Star Wars-themed panel presentations. ...
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Have you met the man who first brought Boba Fett to life? In 1978, John Celestri animated Boba Fett for his introduction in the Holiday Special, kicking off Star Wars fans’ nearly 50-year fascination with the mysterious bounty hunter. During the May 4th weekend, John shared his experience with more than 150 collectors at the Rogue Fun weekend in Kennesaw, Georgia. Learn more about John’s contribution to the world of Star War...
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Getting stuck in a toilet, starting an office fire, and firing blow darts into plastic dolls? Just an average day at Kenner. These are just some of the ridiculously funny and fascinating stories from the final Star Wars-themed panel of the Rogue Fun collectors weekend, held during the 2024 May fourth weekend in Kennesaw, Georgia. Former Kenner employees Howard Bollinger and Tim Effler shared tales from their time working togeth...
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Darth Vader actor David Prowse spoiled The Empire Strikes Back’s biggest surprise, two years before the film premiered in theaters. So why was he just as shocked as the rest of the audience to hear his character utter those five iconic words on opening night? To celebrate the 45th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back, join host David Quinn as he revisits the story of how Star Wars’ greatest twist remained a secret known to on...
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Rogue Fun’s first full day was a Star Wars collector’s dream. Together, 200 fans and collectors traveled to Kennesaw, Georgia in May of 2024 to attend a once-in-a-lifetime weekend centering around Star Wars and its amazing community. Join host David Quinn for an in-depth look at day two of the ROGUE FUN weekend. Follow your fellow Star Wars fans as they hike the Kennesaw Mountain, check out the original Muppets at Atlanta’s ...
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Was ROGUE FUN the greatest Star Wars collectors event of all time? In May of 2024, 200 fans and collectors traveled to Kennesaw, Georgia for a four-day event that showcased the best parts of collecting and the Star Wars community. ROGUE FUN, hosted by the Georgia Alliance of Star Wars Collectors (GASWC), featured collection tours, group activities and dinners, legendary room sales, and some incredible panel presentations. Join h...
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You may be familiar with how Rogue One ends. But do you know how ANDOR began? The critically acclaimed Star Wars series almost didn’t happen. The goal of ANDOR was to detail Cassian Andor’s journey from a child of war to a self-focused mercenary to a selfless hero of the early rebellion. And like the rebels taking down the Death Star, the story behind bringing this one-in-a-million drama to the small screen is just as wild,...
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For more than a decade, ToyCon NJ has been one of the best tri-state toy shows for Star Wars fans and for general collectors. And that tradition continued this past weekend, as ToyCon not only served as a meetup for members of various Star Wars collecting clubs, but offered some incredible items at excellent prices. Join host David Quinn for a two-day kickoff of the toy show season, in two different states. Travel to the Armor...
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New releases, popular panels, and a record-breaking amount of swag. But what was the latest Star Wars convention really like for fans and attendees? Join host David Quinn for a look at the weekend of Star Wars Celebration Japan, through the stories and reflections of fans and collectors. Featuring live clips and conversations from Elon Bartlett, Hannah Bennett, Dave Brott, Bill Cable, Paul Chu, Matthew Fox, Billy Galaxy, Chris...
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Coming to you live, from Star Wars Celebration London! In April of 2023, the Exhibition Centre London opened its doors to Star Wars fans from around the world, for the latest multi-day Star Wars convention. Join host David Quinn for an extensive tour of Celebration London, through the live reports of the Star Wars collectors and friends who attended the unforgettable weekend! Featuring Bill Cable, Mike De Stefano, Jonathan McE...
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Let’s step back in time, to another epic Celebration weekend: Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader, in the same room. The first massive gathering of Star Wars fans and collectors in three years. And a mountain of Star Wars-themed swag. This was the unforgettable event that was Star Wars Celebration Anaheim. Join host David Quinn as he revisits the Celebration weekend of 2022, through the lens of the collectors and fans who traveled ...
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Have you ever dined with Chewbacca? Have you been in the same room with George Lucas, Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill and John Williams? Have you encountered the Running of the Willrow Hoods? And do you know which item may have been the first swag from Star Wars Celebration? For Star Wars fans and collectors, there's nothing like the multi-day convention dedicated to George Lucas' creation and everything that goes with it. Join h...
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