Summary

Collider’s Steve Weintraub discusses Iron Studios and CCXP with CEO and co-founder Renan Pizii.

Iron Studios offers diverse collectibles from Marvel to classics like Jaws and Jurassic Park.

In this interview, Pizii discusses how Iron Studios plans to focus on expanding its fan base in the USA over the next 5 years, what collaborations fans can expect in the coming years, and tons more.

Founded in 2013, Iron Studios is well known among con-goers as one of the leading developers of quality collectibles. From 1/20 to 1/3 scale figures, this brand offers fans intricate statues of beloved characters from titles that span from Marvel and DC to classics like Jurassic Park and Jaws.
In addition to their year-round online availability, Iron Studios has a major presence at cons, particularly with Comic Con Experience (CCXP). Iron Studios CEO Renan Pizii is a co-founder of this epic convention that began in São Paulo, Brazil and has since begun its expansion to both Germany and Mexico, with panels, guests, and installations that rival the highly-anticipated San Diego Comic-Con.
In this interview with Collider’s Steve Weintraub, Pizii shares Iron Studios’ ever-evolving journey as they continue to expand their range. From “movies to series, games, and animes,” the CEO discusses how the business shifted over the years through a global pandemic and as they continue to cultivate their relationship with licenses like Disney. Check out the full conversation below for details on Iron Studios’ hottest-selling collectibles, how tariffs could affect their production, which figures are the most challenging to produce, and teases for what’s to come at this year’s CCXP and beyond.
Iron Studios Continue to Expand Their Reach

Pizii also shares how CCXP has changed from an intimate fan even to a massive con.

COLLIDER: I feel like Iron Studios has been growing a lot in the past few years. What has it been like?
RENAN PIZII: Yes, we’ve really started to look to any license possible that brings us the feeling of collectibles, from movies to series, games, and animes. A very good example was the MOTU license that we signed in 2022; we really looked to the ‘80s toy line and started to remake them in 1/10 scale.
How would you describe CCXP when compared to, say, San Diego Comic-Con?
PIZII: I’ve been at SDCC since 2007. When we started to plan CCXP, the idea was a small event just for fans. We never thought we could achieve what we achieved in just 11 years. For me, we are more than an event; we are a huge experience for the pop culture fans.
One of the things Iron Studios does is offer different price points for fans and collectors. Have you noticed more adult collectors buying the big and expensive items, or is it always the lower-priced things that sell more?
PIZII: Before COVID, yes. The big statues were a top priority, especially to American customers. After COVID, with the global inflation, everything changed a lot, and we see our 1/10 scale with a high demand.
What Iron Studios item over the past few years surprised you with how fast it sold? How do you figure out which exclusives you want to make for each con?
PIZII: We think a lot about it before we even talk to the license, and many times, we have an idea. Unfortunately, for some reason, licenses don’t want that item as an exclusive. This year, we got permission for a Predator exclusive, and we decided with Disney for it to be Elder Predator. This piece is amazing, and we will show it for the first time at SDCC 2025.

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What’s the dream IP that you’ve been trying to land but still haven’t found a way?
PIZII: DC vs. Marvel from the 1996 comic book, but of course, it’s very difficult to bring Marvel and DC into the collection. And Spawn.
Iron Studios is huge in Brazil, and you have a presence in the United States. What’s your plan for 2025 and 2026, and how are you looking at the next five and 10 years?
PIZII: Our plan for the next five years is to focus on the USA. We want to have the same fan base that we have in Brazil, but in USA. This is our goal and dream.
Have you ever debated making something crazy like a $5 or $10 thousand dollar collectible, or is the amount of people that spend that much so small that it’s incredibly risky to make?
PIZII: We talked about it already, but it’s not easy. Production is easy, but it isn’t worth the investiment most of the time since the amount of people who want to buy a $10,000 item is quite limited. But still, we had very expensive pieces like Jurassic Park and Jaws, and we will have the Millennium Falcon 1/20—that will be something else.
What’s been the hardest figure/collectible to produce for Iron Studios and why?
PIZII: I think one of the most difficult ones that we had in terms of engineering was [Captain America] from the Disney + series [The Falcon and the Winter Soldier] and Peter Pan Deluxe from Disney. Difficult in terms of negotiation and permission to produce, for sure, was Walt Disney & Mickey since 2014, when we signed with Disney. I was waiting for that.

Does Iron Studios have a warehouse filled with sold-out collectibles, or do you only keep one or two for the company?
PIZII: Yes, we have one of each in our showroom, and I ask to audit almost every month to be sure everything is there.
From a business perspective, are you concerned about the Trump tariffs?
PIZII: I know from speaking to people everyone just wants to know the rules and how to operate, and it seems hard to be able to plan six months from now when the costs could easily change. Yes, it’s always bad, but if the economy gets back, this tariff could be something easy to deal with.
How far out are you working on things? Is it six months? One year? Two years?
PIZII: We just started to work on Avengers 5 to have an idea. So, we are always at least one year in advance.
How often do you work on something, and then the studio or someone says no?
PIZII: In the beginning, it was difficult. Now, we have such a great relationship with all of them. Before we do anything, we plan all together. After the idea is approved, we go for the concept stage. We do around 10 concept ideas before we show them the final concept for approval.
What’s on the Horizon for Iron Studios?

Pizii teases a few projects in the works for fans to keep an eye out for.

Image via Warner Bros.

Do you have a few things you’ve designed that you’re still just waiting on the studio or copyright holder to say yes to?
PIZII: Yes, especially when you work with talent rights. Many talents approve themselves, and when it is in the middle of the marketing date of the movie things start to be quite slow.
I’d like to think making collectibles of musicians or bands might do well.
PIZII: Some have been produced, but not that many.
Is getting the rights to make a Prince figure or other people difficult? Have you been trying?
PIZII: Not him, but we did Elvis, Kiss, and we just signed for Iron Maiden.

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For fans of Iron Studios, what do you want to tease them about what’s coming in 2025 and at CCXP Mexico City and São Paulo?
PIZII: If we get the approvals from the studios, they will be able to do our lineup of [The Fantastic Four: First Steps], Superman, and Jurassic World Rebirth for Mexico and in panels for Mexico. I can tell you it is going to be massive. You will like it. São Paulo is still a little bit far, but I think we will have big surprises with the studios.
Check out Collider for our coverage from CCXP 2024.