10 weird, wild Star Wars toys that almost (but never) were
How'd you like a Darth Vader lava lamp? Or a Death Star basketball? When the folks behind the Star Wars prequel trilogy were trying to figure out how to cash in on the project back in the late '90s, all of these are more were briefly considered—but were ultimately canned (mostly for being too weird, or too lame).
Jason Geyer, who helped brainstorm some of the failed concepts, has released some of the weirder designs in a post over at Action Figure Insider. It's a fascinating look behind the curtain to see just how many marketing ideas are tossed at the wall before a film is actually released.
Check out the gallery below to see what weird items were nearly at a toy store near you.
(via Action Figure Insider).
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Darth Vader Lava Lamp Guaranteed to frighten most small children, this 1970s throwback would feature a psychedelic Darth, haunting your bedroom and your dreams.
Han in Carbonite Popsicle mold Though its a little unsettling if you don't get the reference, this popsicle mold to create your own little frozen Han is actually pretty cool.
Death Star basketball Ok, honestly, this is pretty awesome. Who wouldn't want to shoot hoops with the Death Star?!
Yoda's Dagobah Pencil Sharpener This weird desk swamp featured nifty holes to store and sharpen your old No. 2s.
Star Wars Spirit Illuminator A creepy Darth Vader head that, when you touch the bottom, lights up to reveal his "inner spirit": A baby-faced Anakin.
Inflatable Emperor's Throne You know, for the little evil psychopath in all of us.
Planet Ball Straws Anything that uses the words "straw" and "ball" is usually not a good sign, and this failed design would have featured curvy straws with toy planet balls in the center.
Anakin and Darth Vader salt and pepper shakers This one takes black and white a little too literally, with a black Vader holding your pepper, and a white Anakin helping flavor up your mashed potatoes.
Yoda backpack This was cool, but not very practicial. A backpack featuring a small Yoda attached to the top meant you would always have a Jedi master watching your back. Literally.
Darth Vader Door Knocker A heavy-duty metal door knocker to show the whole neighborhood you have the coolest house in town.
