Which 1996 Star Wars merchandise project was based on the novel and multimedia campaign Shadows of the Empire?

Kenner’s Shadows of the Empire toy line was the 1996 merchandise project based on the Shadows of the Empire multimedia campaign.

Shadows of the Empire was designed as an interlude between The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. It included a novel, comic books, a video game, music, and licensed toys even though it was not a theatrical film.

Kenner’s figures introduced characters and vehicles connected with the campaign, including the new hero Dash Rendar and the villain Prince Xizor. The range showed that Star Wars merchandise could support an original story outside the main movie releases.

It is sometimes mistaken for an ordinary film toy line because it used familiar characters and packaging. However, its source material was a coordinated publishing and entertainment project rather than a new cinema release.