After 35 years of the 3¾" scale serving as the dominant scale for all toys Star Wars, toymaker Hasbro has decided to go big with a brand new line of action-figures.

Sure, back in 1977 the right idea was go small for the Star Wars line of toys, as back when, 8" were the norm - clearly too large for playsets and spaceships.  However, later this year, Hasbro is looking to lure adult collectors in with a brand new 6" scaled line - Star Wars: The Black Series.

This premium line of action figures includes intricate sculpts, an intense amount of articulation, and an amazing eye for detail.  Eight figures overall are planned for release in this new line, with the first four figure series, including Luke Skywalker in his X-Wing outfit, Darth Maul, R2D2 and a Sandtrooper, hitting in Mid-August.

You can see the first picture of the Luke Skywalker figure above, with an early packaged shot below.  The retail price for these new figures will be $20, versus the $8-$10 of the current line.

Clearly, fans have long kept up with collecting figures from all six Star Wars films (and the Clone Wars cartoon), but this new scale is a chance to breathe new life into the decades long toy line.  I mean, Hasbro needs something to keep buyers interested until Episode VII, right?

No word on the second series lineup (I’d guess it has to include Han and Vader), but one would imagine that we’ll know more about the future of The Black Series after the International Toy Fair next month in New York.

Source: USA Today.