Today is Force Friday II, also referred to as Force Friday 2 and Force Friday 2017. It is the first chance for Star Wars fans to buy new products and toys inspired by Star Wars: The Last Jedi ahead of the film’s release.
Force Friday 2017: What is it?
The first Force Friday took place in September 2015 ahead of the release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens and saw The Walt Disney Company partnering with various retailers across the US for deals and in-store events. The Disney Store and Amazon both ran promotional events online, too.
This year, in addition to Force Friday 2017 sales and promotions (our pick of the best Amazon UK products is below) Disney has launched a “Find the Force feature” for its Star Wars app that uses augmented reality to reveal new characters from the film and “help the Resistance find information about key personnel.”
To take part, download the Star Wars app (for iPhone and Android) and open the Find The Force feature. From September 1, logos will appear at participating shops and websites (the full list of retailers is here.) Scanning these logos using the Find The Force feature on the app will reveal AR character experiences.
Each time a new AR character is found, a data chip will be unlocked and the more data chips you find, the more digital rewards you can collect. Each graphic will reveal a different AR character between September 1 and 3.
To mark Force Friday 2017, Amazon has launched a dedicated Star Wars Store on its UK site bringing together the best of its existing Star Wars toys, gadgets and gifts and introducing new lines ahead of December. Argos has also grouped its Star Wars toys together. Here is our pick of the best Star Wars merch on the web.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Hyperdrive BB-8
This remote-controlled Hyperdrive BB-8 rolls in any direction and makes a variety of droid sounds. Its head moves front, back, and side-to-side while as it accelerates and the remote-controlled accelerometer allows rolling in any direction.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi 12-inch Kylo Ren Figure
This 12-inch scale figure is designed to look like Kylo in the Last Jedi and comes with character-inspired accessories.
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Collector’s Edition
This 3D Collector’s Edition from 2015’s film includes commentary with J.J. Abrams, never-before-seen deleted scenes that didn’t make the film’s final cut, an interview with costume designer Michael Kaplan and a cast table read of the script.
Star Wars Droid Inventor Kit
This programming kit lets young Star Wars fans build their very own droids.
Star Wars Glass Stormtrooper Decanter
This decanter is shaped like the helmet of Stormtrooper and can be used to decant up to 750ml of wine or spirits.
Star Wars Forces of Destiny Rey of Jakku Adventure Figure
This poseable 11-inch figure of Rey of Jakku comes her staff, which will swing when you squeeze her legs, and removable top, shirt, belt, shoes and arm wraps.
Star Wars Jedi Holocron
The holocron claims to be able to guess what you’re thinking using 20 questions or less. It uses an algorithm to evaluate answers and uses information from six Star Wars films and Star Wars Rebels. Once it guesses what you’re thinking, it shares a related fact on the LCD screen.
Star Wars Blade Builders Path of the Force Lightsaber Game
This build-your-own lightsaber kit lets you join the Light or Dark side and create a weapon of the corresponding colour to become a Jedi or Sith. You can even switch allegiance, like Anakin, by swapping out the colour module. You can also buy this kit from Argos.
Plox PLX-SW-DS Official Star Wars Levitating Death Star Speaker
This levitating 5-watt speaker is designed to look like the Death Star and will play 360-degree sound for up to five hours.
LEGO Star Wars Chewbacca
Designed for 8 to 14-year-olds, this 179-piece figure shows Chewie holding his spring-loaded bowcaster and comes complete with this ammo belt and bag.
Ahead of today’s event, Sphero announced its brand-new droids, the R2-D2 App-Enabled Droid and BB-9E App-Enabled Droid, both of which will be joining its lusted-after roster of app-enabled toys.
LEGO similarly unveiled its new Millennium Falcon set which goes on sale for £649 in the UK or $800 in the US from October. With 7,541 pieces, it will be the biggest Lego set ever sold and it will come with figures of Han Solo, Chewbacca, Princess Leia and C-3PO along with a BB-8 droid and even a buildable Mynock, a bat-like creature from The Empire Strikes Back.
Separately, Apple is hosting a series of Force Friday 2017 events in stores globally which include learning to code with BB-8 and making your own Star Wars trailer. You can find out if your local store is holding an event here.
And John Lewis in London’s Oxford Street is opening a pop-up Cantina, inspired by The Mos Eisley bar in Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope.
The bar will be open all weekend, to celebrate Force Friday 2017 and visitors will be able try the ‘Spice Smuggler’ cocktail, or the ‘Kessel Run’ mocktail as well as a selection of the Find the Force AR logos and build-a-droid workshops.
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