‘Angry Birds’ joins forces with ‘Star Wars’

“Angry Birds” will enter a galaxy far, far away with a new version of the game that combines the familiar feathered friends with well-known characters and settings from “Star Wars”

“Angry Birds Star Wars” debuts Nov. 8, taking players from the deserts of Tatooine to the sphere of the Death Star. The forthcoming title, a result of a partnership between “Angry Birds” creator Rovio Entertainment and Lucasfilm, will depict “Angry Birds” characters as the heroes of the science fiction saga.

“As a big ‘Star Wars’ fan myself, I’m really excited about this new universe,” Peter Vesterbacka, chief marketing officer of Rovio, said in a statement.

In addition to the game, new “Angry Birds Star Wars” merchandise will begin reaching stores this fall. The items for sale, starting Oct. 28, will include Halloween costumes, action figures and stuffed animals.

“Angry Birds” is among the best-selling mobile games of all time, with an estimated 1 billion downloads. Its sustained popularity has enabled its Finnish corporate parent to merchandise the characters and make plans for a movie.

The venture is an example of how new digital platforms, such as the iPad, are as likely to launch children’s characters as television or film. The “Angry Birds” characters are also poised to make the leap to a theme park and star in a forthcoming animated television series.

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