Review: Star Wars Black Series Director Orson Krennic from Andor, Galaxy Collection Wave 21
- Mephitsu
- 5 minutes ago
- 6 min read
"No notes, no records, none of you were here, nobody puts this in their calendar.”
The first batch of Star Wars Black Series Rogue One releases back in 2016, when the movie came out, pre-dated the face print technology. Almost the entirety of the wave was revisited in 2021 as the Galaxy Collection was launched, adding a more realistic likeness to each of the core characters with the exception of Director Orson Krennic, who was notably absent from this Galaxy Collection Wave, particularly when a slot was given to K-2SO, who had no such need for a facial print upgrade. We have therefore waited some 9 years for Krennic to be revisited, thanks in part to his role in Andor, Season 2.
Director Krennic was released in 2025 as part of Wave 21 of the Galaxy Collection. The Wave included Cassian Andor from the same Season 2 content in his Sienar Test Pilot uniform, while the other figures were taken from other areas of the Star Wars Universe, including Moff Gideon and the Praetorian Guard from The Mandalorian Season 3, and Anakin Skywalker and Captain Rex from the flashback scenes in Ahsoka.
Krennic is number 13 in the Andor Galaxy Collection with the deep red accent colour sitting alongside the matt black of the Black Series outer packaging. The red colour is used on the key text elements and on the side art where Krennic is pictured adjusting the gloves of his uniform. The artwork connects directly to Dedra Meero at the number 12 slot, and onward into the Exclusive release of the Range Trooper in the wider montage for Andor, which now spans both Season 1 and Season 2. The back of the box carries the usual top line overview for the character, while the cardback inside and behind the figure tray is also colour coordinated and carries an embedded image of a space scene, which actually then becomes a scene from the Death Star construction with the next release of Krennic in Dress Uniform
Director Krennic is presented in his white Imperial Director uniform with a white cast upper torso and a corresponding lower section in softer plastic, which also features a sculpted belt to bridge the gap. The belt is painted black with a large silver buckle and built in holster, the whites of the torso and the skirt piece are consistent despite the different plastic finish. The only other decor on the tunic are on the Imperial Code Cylinders just next to each shoulder, and on the rank badge, which has a silver base and blue and red painted squares to represent Krennic’s rank as Admiral rather than his role as a Military Director. Krennic’s gloves and boots are gloss black, while his trousers with the flared upper sections are cast in a more matt black.
The cape is a cast plastic piece shaped to fit the shoulders of the figure and is entirely removable, giving The Director two variant looks for display. The cape is textured and includes panelling and a small slit at the back, but is devoid of any decor.
The headsculpt is a reasonable likeness to actor Ben Mendelsohn with applied facial print and a two tone application to the hair. The hair is part of the head sculpt, so this colouring is a little messy at the edges with some hair sculpt left as flesh tone and some areas that should be flesh bled into with grey.
The head and the figure itself are entirely as they were in 2016, with the only enhancement being the new face print tech. While this might have been acceptable in 2021 when the Rogue One figures were re-booted with the new face print tech, this minor makeover stands out in 2025 as well below par. The particular ‘salt in the wounds’ of this release is a brand new Director Krennic released at the same time in his Dress Uniform that has a far superior decor and likeness, yet appears to be still on the same base head sculpt from 2016. The only other noticeable difference from the 2016 release is the material of the cape, which does feel softer although that has little bearing on the articulation range, considering it's still essentially a fixed cape.
vs Dress Uniform Krennic 2025 and original 2016 release (to right)
That articulation is 16 points in total and inclusive of the older double-jointed pinned knees, a thigh swivel, and without any butterfly joints at the shoulders, and inclusive of an older single joint neck peg with very visible joint. The ankle joints of the 2015/6 era figures were an issue on the figures stability, and this carries forward into this release. The ratchets are set quite far apart, and in between ratchets, there is a point where the ankles are very ‘floppy’, and I find Krennic prone to falling forward, particularly when the extra weight of the cape is in play.
Krennic does not need to be all action, and there is enough articulation to have him wielding or firing his weapon or gesticulating to make his point. To that end, some additional hands would have been great, a pointing hand in particular as a replacement for the blaster.
The blaster and its holster are a carryover from the Rogue One figure, and are accurate to his final scenes in Andor inside the ISB facility, although the weapon was not worn earlier in the series when he undertook the initial Ghorman briefing. The blaster is a poorly sculpted grey piece with very soft detail and a misshapen upper sight straight out of the box and that will worsen if holstered due to the shape of the holster compacting the weapon within.
There is colour on the grip, but it is so similar to the base plastic that it all merges together. If we are not adding decor to blasters, then keeping them a darker tone always helps and not this light cheap looking grey plastic. Krennic can hold the weapon in his right hand securely, with the left hand also featuring a trigger finger, although this is more extended and makes the grip slightly trickier.
Director Orson Krennic, number 13 in the Andor Series, feels very much like a figure we should have had in 2021 held back for 4-years and now showing his age compared to the current output of the Black Series. The figure depicts the Director well enough, but the likeness is lacking despite the enhanced facial printing, and the articulation is aging. In terms of accessories, the cape does a job, while the blaster is of that 2015/16 era around the Force Awakens releases that lacks any detail and has a cheap look and feel.
The biggest issue with this Krennic is the fact that Hasbro released a superior one (cape aside) at almost the same time. This Dress Uniform version uses the same head but looks so much more realistic, while also updating the neck articulation to remove the hideous pivot, and giving Krennic new legs - albeit these are Dress Uniform and more casual than the booted look. The other Krennic even has the same blaster but with enhanced, darker decor.
As a release, we should recognise that this figure will update our Rogue One Collections and is much improved on the original version. For Andor, and against the newer releases from Andor Season 1 and 2, it sadly looks and feels dated.
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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...