Disclaimer: All images here are from the Hasbro Pulse website and are not my own work. Photo Credit: Hasbro, Inc. Copyright and trademarks are owned by Hasbro and Lucasfilm Ltd.

As director of Advanced Weapons Research for the Imperial military, Director Krennic is obsessed with the completion of the long-delayed Death Star project. A cruel but brilliant man, Krennic has staked his reputation on the delivery of the functional battle station to the Emperor.

In November of 2016, a month before the premiere of director Gareth Edwards’ Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Rhode Island-based Hasbro, Inc. released Director Krennic, the 27^th six-inch scale action figure of the long-running Star Wars The Black Series collection. Based on the ruthless but politically naïve Orson Krennic (Ben Mendelsohn), the main antagonist in the first Star Wars Anthology film, the figure is a nearly-flawless representation of an intriguing Star Wars villain from the post-George Lucas era of the franchise.

Imagine the biggest battles and missions in the Star Wars saga with figures from The Black Series! With exquisite features and decoration, this series embodies the quality and realism that Star Wars devotees love. – Product description, Hasbro Pulse website

Hasbro released Director Krennic almost five years ago in a wave of figures that included Scarif Stormtrooper Squad Leader (figure #28) from Rogue One and #29 C-3PO (Resistance Base) from Star Wars: The Force Awakens. And like most of Hasbro’s modern-day action figures, Director Krennic is a well-made likeness in miniature of Grand Moff Tarkin’s ambitious rival in a power struggle for command of the Empire’s ultimate weapon – the Death Star.

What’s in the Box?

Inside the “Red” Series packaging Hasbro used until last year, #27 Director Krennic comes with:

• Director Krennic action figure
• Removable cape
• Imperial officer’s blaster pistol

Recall moments of intense battle with this 6-inch figure Director Krennic from The Black Series that includes a signature accessory and features premium deco across multiple points of articulation. Fans can re-create the exciting stories of good versus evil in a galaxy far, far away with this 6-inch Director Krennic action figure from Star Wars: Rogue One and The Black Series that’s designed for iconic role play and ultimate collectability. – Product description, Hasbro Pulse website

My Take

Orson Krennic: [while meeting with Darth Vader] I delivered the weapon the Emperor requested. I deserve an audience to make certain he understands its remarkable… potential.

Even though Rogue One: A Star Wars Story does not delve deeply into the backstory of the character played by Australian actor Ben Mendelsohn – the novelization of the movie and James Luceno’s Catalyst: A Rogue One Novel (a prequel to the film) fill in the blanks of Krennic’s history and his involvement with the Death Star project – Orson Krennic is one of the saga’s most interesting antagonists. As such, he deserves – and got – a nice action figure with his handsome-but-cruel features immortalized as a Star Wars collectible.

Features:

• Classically-detailed 6-inch replica of Director Krennic from Star Wars: Rogue One
• Includes accessory
• Multiple points of articulation
• Expand and enhance Star Wars collections
• Figure scale: 6 inches

Ages 4 and up. – Product description, Hasbro Pulse website

Orson Krennic: We stand here amidst my achievement. Not yours!

Overall, Director Krennic is a well-designed and nicely crafted action figure in the six-inch scale. Dressed in the imposing uniform of a high-ranking Imperial officer assigned to special duties – white command tunic and cape, black trousers, an Imperial officer’s belt with a functional holster, and black knee-high officer’s boots, Director Krennic cuts a fine – if rather haughty – figure who is dressed – literally – to kill in the name of the Empire.

Like other Star Wars The Black Series figures in this scale, Director Krennic is nicely sculpted and painted to look like the character in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story. Though the figure’s hair is more white-gray than the “real” Krennic’s in the film (and thus makes Director Krennic look older), the flesh tones are not “glossy” and look natural. In addition, the eyes are nicely rendered with white sclera and icy blue pupils.

The cape is removable and made of soft rubbery plastic. It is not (as far as I can tell) painted, so the color is that of the actual material. To simulate fabric, the cape has been given sculpted folds and wrinkles, details that also appear on Director Krennic’s white tunic (which bears the red and blue rank tabs and silver code cylinders that denote his status as the head of the Empire’s Advanced Weapons Research organization. There’s no paint “bleed” on the rank tabs, which have six red tabs above six blue tabs on a silver background – very nice work indeed.

Director Krennic comes with a blaster pistol that fits – a bit awkwardly – into a functional holster on the right side of the figure. It’s not an impressively-detailed weapon, but it suffices.

The figure also has many articulation points that allow you to pose the Director Krennic in different true to life positions. Because Krennic is more of an administrator than a combat officer, it’s more “accurate” to pose the figure in neutral stances – in Rogue One the character only uses his blaster once to menace Rebel operative Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) at the movie’s climax. Nevertheless, if you want to pretend Krennic is leading some stormtroopers into battle against Rebel “scum,” there are plenty of points of articulation that allow you to create exciting action poses.

Overall, Director Krennic is a well-rounded sample of Hasbro’s Star Wars The Black Series six-inch action figures and the attention to detail that Hasbro lavishes on these miniature replicas of Star Wars heroes and villains. I keep mine – as often as possible – in their original packaging, and I usually place my Director Krennic – a recent addition to my collection – on the same shelf with the Death Star Trooper  and Grand Moff Tarkin action figures.

In any event, this is one nice figure, and I’m glad I bought it for my modest Star Wars The Black Series collection.

Well, that about wraps it up for this review of a new Star Wars The Black Series collectible figure. I had fun writing it, and I hope you will find it both enjoyable and informative.

Until next time, Dear Reader, stay safe, stay healthy, and find joy in even the small things in life. (Including action figures!) And remember, the Force will be with you…always.