Disney is reportedly ‘retiring’ the use of the famous slave costume Carrie Fisher wore as Princess Leia during the first part of Return of the Jedi.
Over the weekend, MakingStarWars.net reported that they had heard in the past that Disney was looking to phase out representations of the skimpy bikini in merchandising.
Marvel artist J. Scott Campbell, who has worked on the Star Wars comics then commented on Facebook that, “Disney is already well on its way to wiping out the ‘slave’ outfit from any future products period.” Campbell even wrote that Marvel has told artists not to draw Leia in a “sexy pose," according to MakingStarWars.net.
Leia’s gold bikini has been an iconic costume from the moment it was introduced in Jedi 32 years ago. It has gone on to have a life of its own and Fisher herself even hates it. She even recently told new Star Wars actress Daisy Ridley to make sure she is never made a slave in the new movies.
The bikini has sadly become the most famous costume for Leia, even though Leia remains one of the strongest female characters in all science fiction. Even the Leia Mrs. Potato Head figure (currently available on Disneystore.com) is in the bikini, instead of her white outfit from A New Hope. If this rumor is true, you have to wonder how long it will take Disney to really stop producing products with the outfit.
It’s also worth noting that Leia and Fisher are in The Force Awakens, so it’s also possible that the reason why we might see less “Slave Leia” products is because they want to push Leia’s new military outfit or the other female characters in the series.