Kenner created the 1996 Shadows of the Empire action figures.
Shadows of the Empire was an unusual multimedia Star Wars project released between the original trilogy and the later prequel films. It included a novel, comic books, music, video games and a substantial merchandise program, even though no feature film was made for the story.
Kenner produced action figures based on characters and designs from the project, including the new antagonist Prince Xizor and the bounty hunter Dash Rendar. The range also revisited familiar characters in costumes associated with the Shadows storyline. These figures helped make an expanded-universe story feel like a full cinematic event.
Galoob is a common mix-up because it made Star Wars Micro Machines and other small-scale products during the same period. Kenner, however, handled the main articulated action-figure line. Hasbro acquired Kenner’s parent company in 1991, but the Shadows of the Empire figures were still branded as Kenner merchandise.