Cyprinus

They just need to focus on the hall of Meduseld, ignoring all the houses and walls and it becomes a rather reasonable set.

The unprinted panels do exist in light bluish gray - came in sets 7094 and 7037.

Old LotR sets also weren't selling like hotcakes. Yet modern LotR still uses flesh tones :P

I would find it amusing if the horse knights turned out to be Rohirrim with the serial number filed off...

I imagine the former. Brick built horses in a castle set in 2025 aren't something most would want to see. It will be rather small though...

Apparently the new 3-in-1 Castle is a "Horse Knight" castle. And there is a 40$ 390 piece "unicorn castle" coming alongside it.

Several leakers confirmed it being a Bag End set. Which makes sense and as far as I am concerned is preferable to paying an extra 250$ for another grassy hill with a door and some windows. I think it is more that we don't actually know the price. I saw some saying it is 200-239$, you mention 250$...Something around 200$ for 1600 pieces wouldn't be anything unique, there is a 240$, 1900 piece X-wing, 230$ 1600 piece Red Bull Racing Car (though I guess it is Technic), Nocturnia is 200$ for 1700 pieces (and no license fees) and so on....

Bag End apparently will have 2017 pieces. Could be a similiar size, but a lot of small pieces for detailing the rockwork.

I imagine it won't be the LIons, just to avoid having two lion castles at the same time when other factions would have nothing.

Hopefully a better build than the modern Eldorado. :P

Wasn't the one just retiring simply the "medieval castle"? Anyway, I don't follow the 3 in 1 sets too much, so I have to ask: how often do they feature new printed pieces? Because we'd need a few to get any faction beyond Lions, Falcons or Forestmen (which feel... unlikely).

I'm sure you know far better than lego does and only that is why we don't have lotr and castle lines aimed at kid, but instead get ninjago, dreamzzz and such.

I think they already used it a Wednesday set (76781).

Bag End in April, possibly another one later in the year.

The inn in MTS is a reference to the original guarded inn, but it is called the "Broken Axes Inn". But I imagine more than a few people will want to slot the modular's sign in there...