Star Wars: Toilet Paper, Toothpaste, Puke Bag… When George Lucas Did Anything Under License

If there’s one franchise whose merchandising is truly overwhelming and has been around for decades, it’s Star Wars. Selling manufactured products wasn’t exactly news until the advent of George Lucas’ space opera saga. But the latter raised it to a level it had never reached before.

For reference, Fox offered the filmmaker a $500,000 salary to make Star Wars. Lucas refused and asked to keep his salary at $150,000; The same thing he did for American graffiti. In return, he demanded the rights to all future Star Wars merchandising; and be entitled to any consequences.

George Lucas’ Conclusion: In 1977-1978, Star Wars grossed over $100 million from toys alone. Since then, merchandising revenue has been counted in billions of dollars. The first film of the saga alone will earn 3 billion dollars a year. If the director built a technological empire with Lucasfilm, Lucas was quickly taxed as a toy merchant…

That said, Star Wars licensing has taken some real abuse, not to mention downright WTF at times. The Italians know this: in the 1990s, they had the privilege of fighting plaque and cavities with Star Wars toothpaste, promoted in a suggestive ad featuring a transalpine Luke Skywalker facing off against Darth Vader’s takeover. But that was before Luke finally used an ad hoc toothpaste/lightstrap to defeat Vader.

Before Disney’s takeover of Lucasfilm, Europe was screwed, so to speak. For the release of Star Wars – Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Germany was eligible Star Wars toilet paperand Paper towel rolls.

In the UK, Virgin Atlantic catered to its passengers by slipping a vomit bag printed with a video game jacket into the front pocket of their seat. Star Wars – Revenge of the Sith. No, this is not a joke. Evidence here.

Before the 3D release of The Phantom Menace in 2012, France was treated to an all-black Darth Vader burger. Created by Quick. And of course, to make sure no one gets jealous, the Jedi Burger…

The threat of an army of troops

We’d be remiss if we forgot a beautiful nugget for the day it was released Star Wars – Episode I: The Phantom Menace, in the USA. Do you remember the short sequence in the movie where Qui-Gon bit Jar Jar Binks’ tongue ? Marketing masters came up with the idea to make a lollipop.

A creation both shameful and cruel, which even Mark Hamill noted.

Don’t believe that Lucas’ sale of Lucasfilm to Disney put an end to this moonshine trade. Mickey’s house was no longer in the mood. In 2015, Americans were able to fill their shopping carts Star Wars Apple Bagssame but with oranges.

For Star Wars – The Force Awakens, they were able to add to their cart… a lettuce leaf wrapped in a replica BB-8 mini robot. Yes Yes.

And while you’re in the food department, would you like some fruit for dessert, like this banana?

As the Nanarland team well said, “The worst is never disappointing”…