Welcome to another round of Ask Sideshow! Every day we receive many new questions from our collectors, which have been submitted to our Ask Sideshow Form! We’ve chosen a few to answer below. If you are interested in submitting a question, please read about what questions we can and cannot answer at the bottom of this page. [Suggestions for Submitting a Question]

Your Questions Answered – 12/09/09

Sideshow obviously partners up with Hot Toys to develop bodies and to import stuff, but does Sideshow’s development team ever take note of Hot Toys’ latest advancements in figure-making? Sideshow has come a ways in its own figure quality, but Hot Toys continues to raise that quality bar so high that it becomes hard to display characters from the two manufacturers together. Don’t get me wrong, in maquettes and statues Sideshow is at the top, but Hot Toys rules the 12-inch world. My question is, does Hot Toys guard its secrets from even Sideshow? What is the reason Sideshow isn’t keeping pace? Every Hot Toys figure just gets better than the last while Sideshow is very hit or miss with their 12-inch line.

We very much admire Hot Toys’ skill and quality. Sideshow and Hot Toys do approach figure design and manufacturing from different viewpoints – Sideshow has been, historically, focused on affordable quality, while Hot Toys has been eager to push the upper limits of what is possible in 1:6 scale. It is fair to say that both Sideshow and Hot Toys have benefited greatly from the exchange and friendly competition – neither would be producing the lines of today without standing on the history and lessons learned in their combined histories. With that said, the design and development teams have initiated some very ambitious 1:6 scale undertakings, and we’ll be interested to read your opinion again in late 2010 and 2011.

Have you ever considered a license for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE/F)? To my knowledge, no one has ever made quality statues of their characters, and I believe Premium Format statues and/or dioramas involving 80′s stars like Hulk Hogan, “Rowdy” Roddy Piper, “Macho Man” Randy Savage, and Andre The Giant, could really sell! This is what we grew up watching, Sideshow, make it happen!

Yes, almost everything has been considered at one time or another, but we’ve never done a serious investigation into the world of wrestling. “Macho Man” Randy Savage alone is a good reason to have a second look. Oh, yeah.

With Christmas coming, will we find any 12-inch John Wayne under our trees?

We’re sorry to say that we have no new 12-inch John Wayne products currently in development.

Why is it that you guys have not yet come up with a premium format figure of Mad Max?? The same question goes for the Ghostbusters. What’s the hold up?

Licensing. Pure and simple, both properties were plagued by licensing dilemmas regarding talent and likeness rights availability. It seems that those issues may have been resolved with Ghostbusters, and it is likely that we’ll do some homework and see what the current story is.

Have you ever though of acquiring the license for Alfred Hitchcock? I would love to see a life-size bust of him, and maybe as the Sideshow “exclusive” a life-size crow that sat on his shoulder or floated above his head/shoulder! A Premium Format Figure would also be gladly welcomed, perhaps is his famous pose holding his Cain. Hitchcock is one of the most influential filmmakers of all time and has a massive devoted following. His likeness was iconic in itself and very easy to recognize, I don’t see you having a problem making a great looking item.

Hitchcock is an interesting subject, but is an unlikely ‘character’ to appear in our product range. We have also looked at another great writer and horror icon – Edgar Allan Poe – as a possible subject for a rather macabre figure or diorama design. Nothing is in development at this time.

Love my Indy Premium Format, and though nothing can compare to Jones, I was wondering if some favorite characters of mine from TV were in the realm of possibilities… Any talks about Firefly or Heroes? The costumes of Firefly are so fun and I can just picture Mal’s pose. And then Sylar’s creepy charm… Any takers?

Firefly is one of the most oft-requested properties (based on Sideshow site search results and Ask Sideshow questions), but not a property that we’re currently looking to license. We actually get very few requests to make products from Heroes, but your interest is duly noted.

I’m looking for the “When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth” – T-Rex VS Velociraptors Exclusive…. there’s one left behind! I need this one!!

We highly recommend looking to the secondary market – either eBay or the Sideshow Retail Network may help you turn up the Jurassic Park diorama exclusive.

Is Sideshow planning 1:1 scale busts for the upcoming James Cameron’s Avatar?

Sideshow is actively developing the AMP Suite Maquette and Premium Format style figures based on the main characters but is not currently engaged in any life-size product development. We’re definitely watching to see how the film is received, and we’re poised and ready to develop more if the film is a big hit.

Any chance of a Faux Bronze Mort Vinyl Collectible Figure?

Sorry, no plans at this time for a faux-bronze Mort.

My favorite star wars movie is The Empire Strikes Back, and for some reason always wanted my very own life-size, massive and accurate Han in Carbonite block… I now it might be heavy and expensive, but I think that a lot of people would love to have one. Complete with the display buttons and dial that Lando played with during the scene… I can just imagine this 6-food monster block…. I know Sideshow can make it!

Yes, we can see the attraction. The carbonite encased Han is HIGH on our radar and is likely to see production at some point.

I am just wandering about the 12-inch Stormtroopers / Sandtroopers. Is there a particular reason why the helmets being produced are the ‘hero’ version and not the ‘stunt’ versions? The stunt versions are a little nicer and have a longer mouth, which extends to the bottom corners.

In general, we approach projects with the intent to capture the ‘ideal’ version of the character. When there are multiple reference sources available, we’ll generally lean towards the one that represents the most iconic look for the character.

I just received my Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Indy Premium Format and have to say its the most amazing Ford likeness to date! I totally love it! Is there any chance Trevor will be doing a new Han Solo PF anytime soon? Possibly an Endor Han or Hoth Han? I would hope so
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You’ve got a bunch of very promising Star Wars Premium Formats coming in a near (or not so near) future, like Stormtrooper, C-3P0, etc. Being a fan of the Original Trilogy, is there any chance we might see a new Han Solo coming our way (I’m hoping for an Episode V Han here, and maybe later a Lando from Ep VI disguised, from the Jabba scenes).

Duly noted, we’ll definitely nudge the development team that we need a new Han Solo. We have heard Han in his Hoth gear discussed a time or two and possibly Bespin Han. You will see Trevor’s talent again on a Harrison Ford likeness from Temple of Doom before you see another Han Solo.

With the Star Wars Premium Format line, I notice there are not many characters released from The Empire Strikes Back – Luke/Yoda being the only one I can think of. Any chance we will see Luke in his Hoth outfit, Snowspeeder Pilot outfit or Bespin outfit? A really amazing PF set would be Luke Bespin and Vader ESB with Exclusive Bases. (Carbonite Chamber Base that lights up!!) They can go together as did the Vader and Obi Wan PF’s from ANH, Can you please pass this onto the development team?

Yes, with the big anniversary of ESB in 2010, we’re definitely focusing on Empire candidates for production in all product categories. We’ll definitely pass along your suggestions.

So far your Star Wars dioramas are awesome. But there seems to be an avoidance of anything involving the black-suited Jedi Luke from Return of the Jedi. Will you be making a Vader vs. Jedi Luke Diorama from ROTJ? -and- Do you plan on making a Jedi Luke VS Darth Vader Diorama from Return of The Jedi in the near future?

We assume this question was submitted before we unveiled the Luke VS Rancor Diorama, which features Jedi Luke. Yes, Luke VS Vader from ROTJ is high on our to-do list. Fear not, Jedi Luke will get his due representation!

Has Sideshow ever considered making a 1:4 scale Jabba the Hutt with a whole line of Premium Format characters to go with it to make a Jabba Scene? Like Premium Format Gamorrean Guard, Bib Fortuna, Oola, Max Rebo, Sy Snootles, Droopy McCool? If not a 1:4 Jabba, all the other characters mentioned would still be a nice addition as Premium Formats to any respectable Star Wars collection.

Yes, we’ve considered making Jabba himself in 1:4 scale, but we’re more likely to continue with his entourage in 1:6 scale than in 1:4 scale. There are some wonderful alien designs from Jabba’s palace that would make excellent PF candidates, but we’d be unlikely to go so far as Max Rebo’s band or any other BIG multi-piece collection in PF form.

You said in 2010 you were going to be doing more alien-type characters in the Star Wars universe and that you were developing other bodies for these figures in 12″ scale. I am so excited to hear that!!! That’s one thing that made Star Wars stand out is the aliens and unique characters. That being said, I just have a few ideas and please let us know if any are in the works or strong possibitilites: Max Rebo and his red ball organ, Sy Snoodles (old version), Droopy McCool, Amanaman, Ephant Mon, Hammerhead, Yak Face, Squid Head, Nute Gunray, and of course Chewbacca! Another I’d LOVE to see is a really well-crafted ROTJ Emperor with his throne, cane, lightning hands, and two portraits: calm and fierce!

Yes, at least half of the characters you mention have been fully designed and are likely to see development beginning in the near future.

Thank you all for submitting such intriguing questions. Keep watching our Production Blog and listening to our Podcasts as we continue to answer more Ask Sideshow questions in the future!

Suggestions for Submitting a Question

Do you have a question for our Production Team? [Ask Sideshow!]

Please Note: If you would like to submit a question using the form, please remember that Ask Sideshow should NOT be used as a way to solicit for a job, contact Customer Service, ask about a shipping date, or register a complaint. Most of those questions, comments, and solicitations can be most efficiently sent to us by filling out our online Customer Service Request Form.

Also, a fair warning: Questions that ask, “Will you be doing/Why don’t you do [insert license or character name]?” will probably never be answered. We’re happy to drop hints when we can, but we cannot answer any direct questions about what we’re planning in the future for a variety of reasons, which include (but are not limited to) licensing, production, artistic contracts, and ever-changing schedules and projected release dates. Please feel free to use the form for all these sorts of questions or quasi-suggestions, BUT don’t be offended when we don’t answer to your full satisfaction… or don’t answer at all – it’s not personal, we promise!