Buzz
by James Hunt
For avid toy collectors, unreleased prototypes are the ultimate treasure. These rare items, halted at the prototype phase, become legendary pieces of cultural history, nearly impossible to acquire.
Even if you're not a collector, the allure of these unmade toys is undeniable. To give you a glimpse of what might have been, we’ve highlighted some of the most captivating action figures that, for various reasons, never reached production.
1. THE DARK CRYSTAL ACTION FIGURES
Despite being a beloved cult classic today, The Dark Crystal struggled at the box office upon its 1982 release, prompting Aviva Toy Company to scrap their planned action figure series. Out of the nine prototypes created, six—Jen, Kira, a Happy Pod Peasant, a Slave Pod Peasant, Aughra, and Skeksis—were designed to include accessories, each featuring a unique piece of the Dark Crystal. The remaining three—a Landstrider, Mystic, and Garthim—were larger figures without additional accessories.
However, there’s a silver lining: In 2016, Funko revealed plans to produce Dark Crystal action figures as part of their nostalgic "re-action" collection. After a 32-year wait, fans of the film can finally own Dark Crystal-inspired toys.
2. AND 3. TRANSFORMERS UNICRON (1986) AND
TRANSFORMERS UNICRON (1999)
Unicron, the planet-devouring robot, has been a fan-favorite antagonist since his debut in 1986's Transformers: The Movie. Despite his popularity, it took more than 15 years for a toy version to materialize, though efforts were made much earlier.
Standing at a foot tall, Hasbro's initial Unicron prototype—featuring a blue-gray and yellow color scheme—would have been the largest Transformer of its time. It included a voice chip and a microphone for altering voices. Takara, Hasbro's Japanese partner, also designed a smaller variant using the same mold, complete with a "moon system" accessory and a green-and-yellow palette. Despite the line's success, neither company moved forward with production, likely due to the high costs involved.
The concept of a Unicron toy didn’t vanish entirely. In 1999, Takara developed a completely new prototype for the Beast Wars Neo series, where the character played a significant role in the Japan-only cartoon. This detailed resin prototype featured intricate designs and multiple gimmicks, but production was again halted due to budget constraints. It wasn’t until 2003 that Unicron finally got an official toy release as part of the Transformers: Armada collection.
4. STAR WARS ROCKET-FIRING BOBA FETT (1980)
For years, rumors circulated that early versions of the mail-away Boba Fett figure included a functioning back missile, while later versions had it glued down for safety reasons. However, the existence of the firing missile variant was hotly debated. Kenner, the Star Wars toy manufacturer, denied its release, and some fans speculated it was a shared false memory from childhood.
In reality, the rocket was marketed as functional, but the released version always had it fixed in place, making the prototype with a working missile highly sought after. Fewer than a dozen complete examples exist, and they seldom come up for sale. The figure's rarity led to a 2010 reissue, also available exclusively through a mail-away offer. The original remains one of the most prized Star Wars collectibles, with one selling for $16,000 in 2003.
5. CENTURIONS SERIES II FIGURES (1987)
Despite the Centurions cartoon's success, with 65 episodes airing in 1986, its toy line struggled to gain traction. As a result, plans for figures based on later characters like Rex Charger and John Thunder were abandoned. Prototypes revealed Rex Charger with his Electro Charger and Gatling Guard attachments, while John Thunder featured his Silent Arrow and Thunder Knife suits. The series also intended to introduce new weapon systems for the original trio—Ace McCloud, Jake Rockwell, and Max Ray—but declining toy sales and the show's end led to the cancellation of the second wave.
6. STAR TREK TNG BRIDGE PLAYSET (1989)
Galoob, the first company to secure a Star Trek: TNG toy license, produced only a year's worth of items before discontinuing the line. Prototypes for the second year included a Frisbee-style Enterprise, Tricorder Walkie Talkies, and the highly anticipated Enterprise D Bridge playset.
The playset, designed to resemble the Enterprise D, featured a detailed miniature bridge inside the saucer section and a transporter platform in the ship's "neck." Despite being advertised on the packaging of several TNG figures, lackluster retailer interest and poor sales of the initial line resulted in the cancellation of the license, leaving the playset unrealized.
7. WATCHMEN 15TH ANNIVERSARY FIGURES (2001)
In 2001, DC Direct planned to launch a set of action figures commemorating the 15th anniversary of Watchmen, the world's best-selling graphic novel. However, strained relationships with the book's creators, particularly the uncompromising Alan Moore, led to the line being scrapped, with only a few prototypes showcased at toy fairs. DC ultimately canceled the project to avoid further conflict with Moore. Years later, the Watchmen movie spawned its own line of action figures, marketed explicitly as film merchandise. As reported by Comic Book Bin, "Moore has distanced himself from the film, refusing royalties and relinquishing any artistic or moral rights over merchandise tied to the movie."
