According to HissTank by way of a Facebook link someone shared with me (yeah, not too indirect, hmmm?)

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New G.I. Joe 2015 Brand Manager Mark Weber
In his first interview we get our first confirmation that G.I. Joe will be alive and well in 2015!

"For the most part, our biggest plans will be centered around future entertainment - the kind of stuff I can't talk about just yet. We are finalizing our 2015 plans and expect to deliver a lineup constructively similar to 2014 - with popular characters and vehicles, as well as a few NEW Surprises. If things go as planned, we will have an update to reveal at JoeCon in Springfield."

"We want to have stronger, more consistent dialogue with the collectors and fans. We want collectors to have NEW vehicles and playsets to energize the brand to a new generation of kids and a fantastic new feature film that is faithful to the soul of the brand (action, fun, weapons, vehicles). Two things I want to prioritize right away - I want to enable and simplify army building for Collectors, and I want the file cards to be brilliant for our characters."

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Okay, call me cautiously optimistic. I have no idea who this guy is, but I'm impressed that Hasbro would APPOINT a new G.I. Joe Brand Manager.

Obviously that line about "centered around future entertainment" is a nod to the next movie.

I have no idea what "constructively similar to 2014" might mean, since there wasn't much in 2014 except the 50th Anniversary line, and to be honest, I'm getting tired of re-treads (although I liked the Arctic BAT).

I'm hoping that one of the NEW surprises will be a 6" BLACK SERIES!

I like his last sentence about "simplifying army-building", although I don't personally expect to do much of that since I'm not that into the modern style line unless they come up with something seriously new and impressive, and I certainly agree with wanting the "file cards to be brilliant". That's long overdue.

At least we know something is coming. Even if its just movie stuff at this point, I like the sound of new vehicles.

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Sounds like Hasbro is planning to have a presence at JoeCon this year after taking the 50th anniversary year off.

Regarding the "similar to 2014" comment, I'd expect a few 2-packs and vehicles exclusive to TRU just like the 50th line.

And the line about a "stronger, more consistent dialogue with collectors and fans" is great if they follow through. Say what you will about Mattel and Scott Neitlich he was communicative and engaged with the collectors and fans. It wasn't always positive or what fans wanted to hear but he put himself out there, good bad and ugly. If Mr. Weber puts himself out there for us in a similar fashion I think it will earn a lot of good will with the fans.

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Not a lot to dislike in that statement, but not a lot to excitedly trust, either.

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vehicles! play sets! those were sorely missing & what made Joe great!
I would really love a Dragonfly!
from the concept case

Well, we will see. But this means they are paying attention to Joe again, which has been underwhelming this past year.

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good,I don't want tons of items but around 30 figures,and some vehicles would be great

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Mark_Weber

https://www.linkedin.com/pub/mark-weber/9/753/907

He comes to us by way of Transformers, where he's been the brand manager that brought us Generations (yay) and Constructobots (boo). He's a sports guy from McFarlane, and a former sports radio guy from Clear Channel, so he has ample experience with maniacal egomaniacs and large evil organizations - which should allow him a good understanding of Cobra at least.

I'm not seeing a lot of new direction stuff in the work he's associated to. It seems like cooler, better or different versions of previous ideas and IP. That is pretty much the opposite of what Joe needs right now - it needs a hard reboot in every possible way, supported by multichannel media and a clean and focused new position.

I'm not a huge adventure team fan, but that's what Joe needs right now. If they can do a convert of the line like they did in the 70's to something more adventure centric, I think that they'll really engage a bunch of kids that grew up on Dora, Diego, and countless other adventure centric exploration shows.

The best direction that they could take right now is to forget about us old crotchety bastards, and focus on winning kids back to toys with new interactive technologies (like NFC a la skylanders) and electronic media (kids expect toys to have a web/virtual existence alongside the physical one).

But I suspect that they will engage the fans, and we'll get hyper realistic retreads of Sea Slug and Sub Zero, Viper 6 packs, and a one piece mold modern Rolling Thunder with lifelike noises and launching rockets. And we will be happy feasting on the long dead bones of the 80's IP.

As it was, so it ever shall be.

- R

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Yes he said new vehicles and playsets to get new fans onboard, but I think the keywords were "a fantastic new feature film".
So I think that GI Joe will once again come out of the shadows because there's a third movie coming...

Shiny file cards and army building... What is this, the Spy Troops days?
Just make sure that your new and energizing product actually reaches the stores.

The 2014 line up was a bunch of Retaliation leftovers with a 50th logo.
Like raptor said, we need new stuff.

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Is the 3rd movie even underway yet? If there is to be a 2015 line that is movie based, seemsl like the movie should be near the end of production. maybe we will see another release to TRU like the 50th line to bridge the gap to the movie.

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Fixed that for you.

I want Raptor in charge of Joe in 2015.

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if it goes adventure team I won't have to buy any new items

I was into the McFarlane sports figures when he worked there , I think he did a good job with the limits he had to deal with . If he has totally control over Joe then I think most of us will be happy .

GI Joe won't be at the next Toyfair.
http://toynewsi.com/news.php?catid=9&itemid=23997

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