Star Wars Retro Collection A New Hope 50th Anniversary Reveals
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“A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…” Hasbro has just announced some super exciting new Star Wars Retro Collection A New Hope figures, and boy are we thrilled! Huge thanks to @baroness of toys for the heads up and @yakaborrent over at Yakface for posting these reveals! Now, these are reissues of previously released characters, but before you scroll past, hear me out. The packaging has gotten a really cool overhaul with thicker cardbacks, the faux weathering has been completely removed, and the Retro Collection stickers have been redesigned and reduced in size. The result? These new cardbacks look so much better than the originals, and I honestly think they’re stunning. But it’s not just packaging changes! There are some fun figure variations tucked in here too. The Tusken Raider now sports hollow cheek tubes, the Jawa comes with a vinyl cape (yes, a vinyl cape Jawa!), Han Solo has a small head variant, Luke Skywalker features brown hair, Obi-Wan Kenobi has gray hair, and both Luke, Obi Wan and Darth Vader are said to have double telescoping lightsabers! I just love that Hasbro is leaning into those classic Kenner-era variations that vintage collectors have obsessed over for decades. It really connects the Retro Collection back to its roots in such a charming way. Even if you already own the original Retro Collection releases, these updated cardbacks and figure tweaks make this a great opportunity to grab them again. How amazing is that vinyl cape Jawa?! As a collector who has always loved the simplicity and nostalgia of the Retro Collection line, I can’t be more excited about these. So let’s take a look at the Star Wars Retro Collection A New Hope 50th Anniversary reveals!
Where to Buy
You can preorder the single card releases now at Target.com below
Single Card Releases
The card art for Princess Leia features a gorgeous photo of Carrie Fisher in her iconic white senatorial gown, set against the green-tinted corridors of the Tantive IV. I like how the thicker cardback and the clean, unworn finish give this packaging a much sharper presentation compared to the earlier faux-weathered releases.
Luke Skywalker’s card art uses a warm, sun-drenched photo of Mark Hamill in his farmboy tunic, perfectly evoking Tatooine. It’s worth noting this release features brown hair on the figure, a subtle but notable change from the previous version’s blond, and that smaller retro sticker sits much less intrusively on the cardback. This one is said to be a double telescoping lightsaber variant!
Han Solo’s card art showcases a classic photo of Harrison Ford in the Mos Eisley cantina, blaster drawn, with that original trilogy starburst and Luke and Leia illustration nestled in the upper corner. One thing I noticed right away is the small head sculpt on this version, a deliberate variant from the previous release that vintage Kenner enthusiasts will immediately recognize as a nod to the original 1978 figure’s proportions.
Darth Vader’s card art features a moody close-up photo of the Dark Lord alongside the classic original trilogy starburst with Luke and Leia in the upper right corner. I like how the figure sits in that warm gold-toned blister, his all-black cape and helmet sculpt looking especially clean against it.
Chewbacca’s card art features a great close-up photo of the Wookiee in all his furry glory, with the same classic starburst and Luke and Leia illustration tucked into the upper corner. I’m really digging the teal-green bowcaster packed alongside the brown sculpt, a simple color contrast that pops nicely inside that clear blister.
Obi-Wan Kenobi’s card art features a profile photo of Alec Guinness gazing off into the distance, his brown and tan Jedi robes layered beautifully against the black cardback. Something I appreciate here is the gray hair on this version of the figure, a deliberate variant from the earlier release’s white, and that translucent blue lightsaber tucked alongside him in the blister adds a nice little splash of color.
Early Bird Set
Here’s a closer look at the three figures included in the Early Bird set outside of the display box, with R2-D2, C-3PO, and a Death Squad Commander lined up together. R2’s white and blue sculpt has a nice chrome dome, C-3PO sports that full gold metallic finish from head to toe, and the Death Squad Commander comes with a black blaster and a gray Imperial uniform with black boots and gloves.
Here’s a closer look at the full collector display box, which recreates the classic Kenner “Early Bird” presentation with a gorgeous black starfield backdrop featuring X-Wings and TIE Fighters soaring across the top panel. All twelve figures are lined up together in front of the foldout diorama, and you can spot the Space Club Card and original movie synopsis printed right on the front of the box, a beautiful touch of nostalgia that really ties the whole set together.
Storm Trooper & Rebel Fleet Trooper Troop Builder Two Pack
This two-pack pairs the Rebel Fleet Trooper and Stormtrooper together on a shared cardback, with each figure set against its own colored blister window, blue for the trooper and red for the Stormtrooper. You can see how two miniature individual cardbacks are also included in the lower right corner, a fun bonus that essentially gives you three packaging options in one set.
The Stormtrooper’s card art features a photo of two troopers in that classic desert pursuit scene, with warm orange explosion tones bleeding across the image. It’s cool to see the crisp white figure sitting inside the blister with that small black blaster tucked right alongside, a clean and simple presentation that suits the trooper perfectly.
The Rebel Fleet Trooper’s card art features a great photo of the trooper in his dark vest and distinctive helmet with chin strap, captured inside the Tantive IV corridor that ties back nicely to Leia’s packaging. I like the way the figure’s blue and gray color scheme pairs with that soft blue-to-white gradient on the lower portion of the cardback, creating a cohesive look across the whole presentation.
Hollow Cheeks Tusken Raider & Vinyl Caped Jawa
This two-pack pairs the Tusken Raider and the Jawa together on a shared cardback, with each figure framed in its own blister window, green for the Tusken Raider and yellow for the Jawa. You can see how two miniature individual cardbacks are tucked into the lower right corner here as well, mirroring the same bonus packaging approach used in the Rebel Fleet Trooper and Stormtrooper set.
The Jawa’s card art features a wonderful close-up photo of the little scavenger clutching its ion blaster amid the rocky Tatooine landscape, with that warm sandy color palette dominating the entire cardback. I like that this version comes with the vinyl cape, a deliberate variant from the previous release’s cloth robe, and that tiny black blaster sitting in the blister beside the figure is easy to miss if you’re not looking for it.
The Tusken Raider’s card art features a fantastic photo of the Sand Person gripping his gaderffii stick against the rocky Tatooine canyon walls, perfectly capturing that feral desert nomad energy. I noticed that this version sports hollow cheek tubes on the head sculpt, a subtle variant from the previous release that’s a fun detail for anyone tracking the differences across these reissues.
