The merchandise awakens.

What do Covergirl®, Subway®, Verizon & Duracell® all have in common? Well, if you are Disney and Lucasfilm Ltd., you’ll be raking in the cash from all of them. Yes, more than three months before Star Wars: The Force Awakens comes to a theater near you, sponsors of the long-anticipated sequel are gearing up to sell you some intergalactic batteries & metallic lipstick.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens line by Covergirl®

Other major promotional partners include General Mills, HP®, Max Factor and FCA US (formerly the Chrysler Group).

My husband recalls the days when he had to send away cereal box parts to get the Yoda action figure … in the mail!

Thanks to the “Force Friday” event, coming to toy shelves everywhere on September 4^th, kids (and adults) won’t have to wait for the movie (let alone the United States Postal Service) to get their hands on yet unknown character action figures like “Kylo Ren.” How does that go over at the toy store? “Mommy, I have to have him!! I have no idea who he is or if even he is a servant of the Sith … but I neeeeeeed it!” And it’s not just toys! Beginning at midnight on September 4th, satisfy all your Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise needs with clothes, games, books, and more!

A source at our local toy store shared with me that they have received a very specific directive regarding the pending receipt of Star Wars: The Force Awakens merchandise in advance of the Force Friday event. They’ve been told they can’t open any boxes, or even know what is in them. And, they aren’t permitted to put the merchandise out on the shelves until September 4th … which shouldn’t be a problem, since they can’t even open the boxes to see what is in them to put out. It has a very Ark of the Covenant feel about it.

But not everyone is so diligently keeping the secret of the season. First Order Stormtroopers and Tie Fighter Pilots from Hasbro are popping up on Ebay for $100 or more.

Leaked “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” merchandise found on ebay

And leaked photos of The Force Awakens Funko Pop figures have been making the rounds on social media. Personally, I’d trade one of my husband’s kidneys for the BB8 figurine.

Super cute BB-8 Funko Pop figurine

With a recent purchase of a McDonald’s Happy Meal, my son was denied his Minions toy, being advised they were just so popular they’d sold out. I can only imagine how rabid Star Wars fans, hungry for a new (and hopefully not disappointing) film as well as their Subway sandwich, will respond to whatever gadget or toy will coincide with their sponsorship.

So, with better than a quarter of a year to go before the film’s release, fans (including me) will need to start pinching pennies. Although the Force may have not yet awakened, it is approaching … fast and with lots of opportunities to sell us something, which I will most assuredly purchase.