September 1, 2017 – Get ready for a possible new Halloween tradition, courtesy of Disney’s Droid Factory series: Disney has just released its all-new 3.75-inch droid, R3-B0017.
The font-type on the front and back of the card appears to read “R3-B0017” (zero-zero-one-seven). But it could just as easily be read and pronounced as “BOO17 (“Boo 17”), which sounds deliciously spooky. Under the naming conventions, the “17” probably refers to the current year, 2017.
Disney is not advertising this as a Halloween droid per se, so as to avoid any negative publicity and complaints from certain religious objectors. But the ghostly “Boo!” nomenclature and the timing of the release, along with all other manner of Halloween merchandise at Disney’s theme parks, suggest that something spooktacular is happening.
Reverse of the cardback for the R3-B0017 droid.
The narrative on the reverse of the cardback reads:
All different types of Astromech droids populate the Star Wars galaxy. Each droid is different and has their own unique personality and colors. This Astromech has been programmed to scavenge Dathomir and serve Darth Maul. Join R3-B0017 on his adventure throughout the galaxy.”
Visually, R3-B0017 is stunning. The other-worldly green tint will make this droid “pop” and stand out from the rest of your droid collection.
The ghostly droid’s details include:
● A nearly transparent domed head which swivels 360°
● Paint is applied sparingly to preserve the ghostly appearance. The eye is colored black, a red dot for a “light” or LED appears below the eye, and four silver dots complete the domed head.
● It’s possible that lime-green paint was applied to highlight the rectangle which encases the black eye. If so, the painting was expertly done.
● The left and right legs are detachable and can swivel 360°.
● The left and right ankles rock slightly forward and back.
● A third or middle leg is detachable. The ankle does not rock forward or backward.
● The bottom of all three feet sport tiny wheels.
The bottom of the tiny feet come with even tinier wheels.
Like other head tops in Disney’s Droid Factory line, B0017’s domed head has a small, barely noticeable hole at the very top. The gap allows you to insert any number of droid hats (not included) from your other droids or from your spare parts.
But Does It Glow?
The ectoplasmic green tint does not, alas, glow in the dark. Alternatively, we wish Disney would have hidden an LED light or two inside the body to really bring R3-B0017 to life.
Internal illumination would be a perfect project for a customizer. Post a link in the comments below if you find any video or images of a glowing or pulsating B0017.
Where to Purchase R3-B0017
R3-B0017 retails for $12.99 at certain Disney theme parks as well as at Disney Springs (Orlando) and Downtown Disney (Anaheim). As of the posting date of this article, the Shop Disney Parks app does not yet offer this particular astromech droid.
R3-B0017 just hit Disney’s store shelves in late August, 2017.
The $12.99 price point is the same as last year’s Disney Halloween droid, which we wrote about HERE exactly one year ago. Last year’s R2-BOO was also showing off some major Halloween colors.
R3-B0017 (left) and R2-B00 (right), the possible start of a Disney droids Halloween tradition.
About Dathomir
The cardback narrative reads in part: “This Astromech has been programmed to scavenge Dathomir and serve Darth Maul.” You may remember Dathomir either from the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars (2008-2014), Star Wars Rebels (since 2014), or from the Expanded Universe/Star Wars Legends.
From StarWars.com: “A remote planet, Dathomir is drenched in blood-red light from its central star. The planet has continents overrun by twisted vegetation, with forests of bent trees burdened by large, cocoon-like fruit. Bordering dense swamplands is the massive stone fortresses of the Nightsisters, a witch clan. The Nightsisters kept to themselves, but had on occasion been known to offer their services to those who piqued their interests. Far from the Nightsisters lived the Nightbrothers — a tattooed clan of Zabrak warriors were subservient to their female counterparts.”
In the following excerpt, Ezra and Darth Maul visit Dathomir:
“Star Wars – Darth Maul: Son of Dathomir”, Vol. 1 (voice-dubbed animated comic):
FUTURE of STAR WARS 