By Ed Diokno
Views from the Edge
The mystery surrounding the role that the character of Rose Tico will have in the upcoming Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi, has generated a lot of speculation. The fact that she merits an action figure adds to the intrigue.
Rose has a sister, Paige, who will also have an action figure. Is this the first time that two action figures, both women, both Asian, both from the same movie, come out at the same time?
Rose Tico, as played by Kelly Marie Tran, is a maintenance worker for the Resistance, not a particular heroic role usually filled with fighter pilots, swashbuckling smugglers, fleeing princesses and Jedi.
“This possibility that any of us could step up and become a hero, that’s where Rose comes from,” said The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson earlier this year Comparing Rose to Luke Skywaker and Rey, he said, “She’s not a soldier, she’s not looking to be a hero. But she gets pulled into a very big adventure with Finn.”
Disney is expected to release a bunch of new merchandise in connection to The Last Jedi during a global unboxing event known as Force Friday on Sept. 1, but it’s unclear if the leaked products are a part of it. Besides the action figures, there will be light sabers and blasters.
The photo of the Rose Tico action figure was leaked by swrogue507. Among the figures of the heroic figures of Finn and Rey, Luke, Princess Leia, will be the first Asian/American hero Rose Tico. It is noteworthy that the packaging of the action figure includes a space blaster, hinting that Rose will play a bigger role in the storyline than just being a starstruck maintenance worker.
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