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Keith Richards is rolling into the action figure world for the first time -- as one of the "Pirates of the Caribbean."

According to Randy Falk, director of product development for the National Entertainment Collectibles Association, the company has secured the exclusive rights to produce an action figure of Richards' character, Captain Teague Sparrow, from the upcoming "Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End."

The film trilogy's star, Johnny Depp, has often in press interviews referred to Richards as the inspiration for his portrayal of the bumbling pirate, Captain Jack Sparrow. The famed Rolling Stones guitarist, in turn, agreed to do a cameo in the new film.


The production of the figure is a coup for the New Jersey-based NECA, made possible through company owner Joel Weinshanker's strong contacts in the music business, Falk said.

"Richards was not and is not part of the merchandising program with anybody else," Falk said in an @ The Movies interview Tuesday. "We did a deal with him directly due to a relationship that Joel has from working with the Stones in the past."

Falk said that Richards' Captain Teague figure would be available in both 7-inch and 18-inch form.

"People will be able to have Keith Richards as Jack Sparrow's dad on their toy shelves sometime later this summer," Falk enthused.

NECA has previously produced 7-inch and 18-inch action figures based on the first two "Pirates of the Caribbean" films. In addition to Captain Jack, the company has released detailed action figures of Will Turner (Orlando Bloom), Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley), Captain Barbossa (Geoffrey Rush) and Davy Jones (Bill Nighy).

Falk wasn't able to release photos of Richards' figure because studio Disney has been keeping all photos of Teague under wraps.

NECA has produced action figures, prop replicas and other related merchandise for several films, including "300," "Grindhouse," "Sin City," "Kill Bill" and "Shaun of the Dead."

Last year, NECA became the first company to produce an action figure of the iconic film villain Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) from "The Silence of the Lambs."

The company is also producing action figures and related merchandise for the Harry Potter movie franchise, including the upcoming "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix."



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2007-05-17 18:08 by Borncrosseyed.

I hope there will be a big figure of him. I'll buy it for sure. I saw a great figure of Keith on the Let It Bleed documentary from 2002. StonesDoug had it in his collection. I asked him where he got it and he told me that an artist had given it to him. It looks great. It's in the front of the screen at a point when Doug is being interviewed. As far as I can remember it was the 1981 Keith with the loose hanging white undershirt.

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