Review: Star Wars Black Series Director Orson Krennic (Dress Uniform) from Andor, Galaxy Collection Exclusive
- Mephitsu
- 13 minutes ago
- 6 min read
“My rebel is your terrorist”
Director Orson Krennic’s sole release in the Star Wars Black Series had, prior to 2025, been part of the 2016/7 Rogue One releases. Following his extensive role in the 2nd season of Andor, the Hasbro team announced not one but two Krennic releases as part of their Andor Season 2 range of figures. In the mainline, we had a repack of the original Krennic from Rogue One with an updated facial print applied to the existing headsculpt. Alongside this, as a Summer 2025 release, was an exclusive variant of Krennic in the Dress Uniform we see him wearing in Episode 6. The figure was sold in the US via Target, while here in the UK it was a Fan Channel release.
The packaging remains in line with the rest of the Andor releases across Season 1 and Season 2 and utilises a deep red colouring over the matt black box for the text and the side artwork. This release of Krennic is numbered 16 in the Andor Galaxy Collection with the side artwork of Krennic, in the Imperial Dress Uniform and starting straight to camera, connecting to Cassian Andor (Sienar Test Pilot) at one side (15) and the ISB Tactical Agent (17) at the other.
The rear of the box repeats this same artwork, albeit cropped slightly, and some background text on Krennic, which is different to the standard release and talks more about Krennic’s role within the Andor storyline and the development of the energy program for the first Death Star. The box also features a colour coordinated cardback behind the figure itself, and this continues the theme started on the mainline Krennic release, but now includes a part of the Death Star construction against the starscape.
The Imperial Dress Uniform differs in styling rather than colour to the main uniform and that means our new Krennic release is pretty much a new body with the legs moving from the flared Imperial Officer trousers and gloss black boots to a pair of black cast legs wearing standard trousers and a simple pair of laceless shoes or boots. The upper white Admiral’s tunic remains, but is a newly styled piece that now integrates the ceremonial sash and belt, which is painted in white with a thick black border on either side. The tunic also features the rank insignia with a silver base and blue and red squares. Krennic is still carrying the Imperial code cylinders on either side of the tunic. The arms for Krennic appear to be identical to the original release, although the hands are no longer gloved and cast in a skin tone with visible tendons on the back of the hand.
The dress tunic also has an adjusted collar with inset black and silver squares. Krennic retains a cape, but this is now soft goods rather than moulded and is fixed into the figure at the shoulders by two secured clasps that stretch back over the figure, keeping the upper segment of the cape in place. It sits poorly around the neck, unable to hold the shape of the collar we see on screen and on the earlier release. The rest of the cape flows relatively naturally and frames the Director well in stances. There is probably a compromise solution here that would have been ideal with an upper collar and clasp in sculpted plastic transitioning to the soft goods from the nape of the neck downwards.
The headsculpt on first glance looks new and significantly better than the mainline release which itself has had a photo-real update. At closer inspection, they are the same head. The ceremonial figure has been given a much more accurate skin tone, more detailing to pick out the lines and features of Ben Mendlsohn in full character, and with a more accurate hair colouration with more depth thanks to additional colouring as a dark wash over the base grey. The head sits on an updated neck peg to allow the newer neck articulation, but in principle could be swapped with the older figure for those wanting to kitbash a combination of the two Krennic’s, although the neck skin tone will not be a match.
from left to right: 2025 Andor release, 2016 Rogue One release, 2025 Dress Uniform release
The sole accessory is the same customised DL-29 blaster that dates back to the Rogue One release. This time around it is cast in a darker gun-metal plastic with a painted bottom edge in a wood-tone brown as per the actual prop. Again, like the head, this is a significant improvement on the mainline release. There is no holster, and in actual fact, the blaster was never seen in the scenes in which Krennic was wearing his ceremonial dress. It is included almost as an entrenched notion that all figures need a weapon, and with no consideration of scene replication where a drinking glass, or better still, more expressive hands for him to gesture with, would have been more accurate.
As this is a newer body across the legs and torso, articulation is in the newer format with 15 points in total. The upper body lacks any butterfly shoulders, but the arms can gesture or pose well enough, and the torso joint and the dual-joint neck add some character and mannerisms into some of the posing. Krennic can also wield his blaster in firing positions if his social event turns nasty, with the right hand featuring a trigger finger.
The legs no longer use thigh swivels, with the rotation now in the disguised knees which also bend back to a 90 degree position. The ankle rockers are secure, and Krennic is stable once planted into position. The cape being soft goods does not impeded any movement, so there are more dynamic options available if you are broadening his role in your display from a simple dinner engagement and he can also sit and kneel where required.
Having waited nearly 9 years for an accurate Krennic, two come along at once, and neither of them fulfils the job entirely. The updated Rogue One model has the standard uniform, which has more screen time than the dress uniform, and also has the option to remove the cape. The trade-offs are that the cape is sculpted and fixed, and the older body features pinless articulation. The head sculpt on the old figure is treated pretty poorly when you see the same head decor on the Dress Uniform exclusive, which is far more superior. The Dress Uniform Krennic also gets better treatment to his blaster, slightly enhanced articulation, but is let down by a poorly executed soft goods cape, which is fixed and virtually impossible to seat as it should around the neck.
The figures are priced the same, and availability outside the US is broadly similar. In the US, you will need to hit up Target to find your Dress Uniform version. Completists will go for both figures, while those being more selective in collecting will have to determine which attributes you prefer, and for me, the Dress Uniform Krennic edges it slightly on the headsculpt.
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About Me : As a child of the 70's and 80's I grew up in a golden age for action figures and in my youth bought and sold myself through collections of Star Wars, G.I. Joe (Action Force) and M.A.S.K. while also dabbling in He-Man, Transformers and Ghostbusters. Roll forward and I am now reliving that Youth with the action figures of today and am a collector and fan of the larger 6-8 inch figures from my favourite movie and TV licences - including the ones mentioned above, but also the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Doctor Who and the Aliens. I launched The Mephitsu Archives in 2015 with a view of creating a UK focused site or these figures where fans can pick up the latest action figure news, read reviews and get information on where to buy their figures and what is currently on store shelves. I hope I am delivering that to you guys...