Lord of the Rings Ongoing Discussion

[hikouki]

57 minutes ago, Lordhelmet said:

...

...  LOTR battle packs would sell well as the theme lends itself to Army building just like Star Wars does.  (I know Star Wars sells better, not comparing that aspect, just the fact that battle packs would sell really well with 18+ crowds and children).  There is also an absence of good sets under $30 for kids anyway, adding something that adults like to buy for their kids (or the crazy amount of birthday parties that they have to attend) would also line up with the theme, especially battle packs.  I think the best approach for the theme is one big UCS style set, one or two dioramas, and 3-5 play sets (including one battle pack) each year.  I think it is a bigger iP than Indiana Jones or Avatar but probably not as big as Harry Potter from a Lego Sales opportunity. (selfishly I would also like a CMF line which I think would sell well).

...

Not to mention, LOTR battle packs will not only be popular amongst LOTR fans themselves, but also to minifig customs fans...imagine all the bespoke minifig parts that could be recolored but custom makers. LOL

Kidding aside, I do think Lego would do well releasing as many sets as you say. And they can release many different small scenes from the six movies each year.

[sebastian666]

16 hours ago, Ravenclaw62442 said:

I think you need to have interest from kids for a play scale theme and I just don’t think that’s there. Just look at what Lord of the Rings merch is out there and it’s pretty much all geared towards adults. You’d need new movies for kids to get into it. 

I think that’s exactly the plan… Create new LOTR content that is geared toward younger audiences to cultivate a new consumer base.

Next year, we are getting a full-length animated film - THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM - with an all-star cast (including Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand and Mirando Otto reprising her role as Eowyn) produced by one of the co-writers of the Peter Jackson films with the help of legendary Tolkien illustrators Alan Lee and John Howe.

An anime-style film is a brilliant move if the investors in the LOTR IP want to engage younger audiences and continue making profits for years to come.

I wouldn’t be surprised if LEGO’s “plans for LOTR” that have been referenced include a wave of Rohirrim-themed sets designed to coincide with the new movie’s release (eg, the Golden Hall, Helm’s Deep, Rohirrim battle packs) with a few OG trilogy LOTR sets sprinkled in. 

[hikouki]

25 minutes ago, sebastian666 said:

I think that’s exactly the plan… Create new LOTR content that is geared toward younger audiences to cultivate a new consumer base.

Next year, we are getting a full-length animated film - THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM - with an all-star cast (including Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand and Mirando Otto reprising her role as Eowyn) produced by one of the co-writers of the Peter Jackson films with the help of legendary Tolkien illustrators Alan Lee and John Howe.

An anime-style film is a brilliant move if the investors in the LOTR IP want to engage younger audiences and continue making profits for years to come.

I wouldn’t be surprised if LEGO’s “plans for LOTR” that have been referenced include a wave of Rohirrim-themed sets designed to coincide with the new movie’s release (eg, the Golden Hall, Helm’s Deep, Rohirrim battle packs) with a few OG trilogy LOTR sets sprinkled in. 

I wonder how cartoon-y that movie will be and if the characters can be made into Lego in the same style as the rest of the series. Or perhaps they will end up being like Lego's SW Young Jedi Adventures, or the Marvel Spidey and Friends sets?

[MAB]

10 hours ago, Balrogofmorgoth said:

What are you even talking about? You know adults collect regular playsets, right? Not just 18+ sets? I’m saying I believe LOTR has enough appeal to all ages to do well as a normal theme. 

Yes, some adults collect regular playsets, but they are typically marketed at children. That means that they tend to be sold in many more retail locations than the large adult sets, and so need to shift huge numbers of sets to be worthwhile. A single small battle pack without other sets from the same theme will not sell well in those locations. And if they do a full theme of playsets, they need a huge number of people to buy them hence targetting them at children and not adults. And kids tend to go for what is popular at the time, which is why companies do movie tie-ins.

8 hours ago, Lordhelmet said:

 I think it is a bigger iP than Indiana Jones or Avatar but probably not as big as Harry Potter from a Lego Sales opportunity.

And that is probably why they didn't do any Indy and Avatar sets, until there were movies out that made those IPs current for kids.

[Artanis I]

I want a Gondor army, not more fekn Rohirrim

[MAB]

1 hour ago, Artanis I said:

I want a Gondor army, not more fekn Rohirrim

I think many of us do, at least those that were into LEGO and LOTR the first time around. For the type of MOCs I build, 16 is plenty for an army and I bought the cheap Chinese Gondor soldiers, binned the figure parts and kept just the armour and helmets. It cost about $20 for all 16, so a relatively cheap stand-in until / if they ever do anything official. I use them on the Heroic Knight CMF body/legs, with the cheap Legolas head.

[Ravenclaw62442]

9 hours ago, sebastian666 said:

I think that’s exactly the plan… Create new LOTR content that is geared toward younger audiences to cultivate a new consumer base.

Next year, we are getting a full-length animated film - THE WAR OF THE ROHIRRIM - with an all-star cast (including Brian Cox as Helm Hammerhand and Mirando Otto reprising her role as Eowyn) produced by one of the co-writers of the Peter Jackson films with the help of legendary Tolkien illustrators Alan Lee and John Howe.

An anime-style film is a brilliant move if the investors in the LOTR IP want to engage younger audiences and continue making profits for years to come.

I wouldn’t be surprised if LEGO’s “plans for LOTR” that have been referenced include a wave of Rohirrim-themed sets designed to coincide with the new movie’s release (eg, the Golden Hall, Helm’s Deep, Rohirrim battle packs) with a few OG trilogy LOTR sets sprinkled in. 

Yeah I suspect any future plans will be tied to WoR. How kid friendly that will be remains to be seen but I for one can’t wait for it! 

[Black Falcon]

16 hours ago, sebastian666 said:

I wouldn’t be surprised if LEGO’s “plans for LOTR” that have been referenced include a wave of Rohirrim-themed sets designed to coincide with the new movie’s release (eg, the Golden Hall, Helm’s Deep, Rohirrim battle packs) with a few OG trilogy LOTR sets sprinkled in. 

7 hours ago, Ravenclaw62442 said:

Yeah I suspect any future plans will be tied to WoR. How kid friendly that will be remains to be seen but I for one can’t wait for it! 

Hmm, for me it didn´t sound like the films would be aimed for kids, more like they will aim for the same audience like the films did. I had my hope for the new trilogy to get sets for them and afterwards sets for the LotR-one. But if we would get sets for the rohirrim-film I wouldn´t complain either.

[zoth33]

2 hours ago, Black Falcon said:

Hmm, for me it didn´t sound like the films would be aimed for kids, more like they will aim for the same audience like the films did. I had my hope for the new trilogy to get sets for them and afterwards sets for the LotR-one. But if we would get sets for the rohirrim-film I wouldn´t complain either.

What new trilogy of films are you talking about?  I haven't heard anything about new films only things coming are WOTR animated film and season 2 of the ROP.  

[Shroffy123]

6 hours ago, zoth33 said:

What new trilogy of films are you talking about?  I haven't heard anything about new films only things coming are WOTR animated film and season 2 of the ROP.  

WB signed a deal with a Tolkien Enterprises to produce additional movies beyond WOTR. 

[Balrogofmorgoth]

New films are in the works, but there’s nothing that hints at a trilogy of any kind right now

[zoth33]

13 hours ago, Shroffy123 said:

WB signed a deal with a Tolkien Enterprises to produce additional movies beyond WOTR. 

Ah ok.  I haven't heard about anything beyond WOTR.  Is there any idea of what the movies will be or directors, cast, etc.  

25 minutes ago, Balrogofmorgoth said:

New films are in the works, but there’s nothing that hints at a trilogy of any kind right now

 

[Shroffy123]

40 minutes ago, zoth33 said:

Ah ok.  I haven't heard about anything beyond WOTR.  Is there any idea of what the movies will be or directors, cast, etc.  

 

Only that future movies planned. No info yet on which age, character, plot, etc. 

[Black Falcon]

Exactly. However I am not sure where I read about it beeing a trilogy, might be that was just speculation, we will see. Personally I would love to see something about the war in the north.

[zoth33]

2 hours ago, Shroffy123 said:

Only that future movies planned. No info yet on which age, character, plot, etc. 

Yeah I was going to say WB has had major issues recently.  And with the strikes here in the US I would think we won't see anything anytime soon.  But if these turn out like ROP because they hire people that don't care about Tolkiens works then this is going to be a disaster.  

[Yperio_Bricks]

....as long as we get Lego sets

[Balrogofmorgoth]

2 hours ago, Yperio_Bricks said:

....as long as we get Lego sets

If we get films about the Angmar War and don’t get lego sets I will quit this planet

[Shroffy123]

1 hour ago, Balrogofmorgoth said:

If we get films about the Angmar War and don’t get lego sets I will quit this planet

That's what I am thinking, one of the movies will be about the decline of arnor, and the battle of fornost

Edited December 7, 2023 by Shroffy123

[legomotive89]

Hello People! This is my creation! The Balrog, Durin’s Bane. https://images.app.goo.gl/qaNyeUCiCxynUESx5. 

[Lordhelmet]

When do we think Barad Dur will release?  I would guess it will be later in the year given we have not heard any further rumors on it (set number/price/piece count).  Do you think it will be a summer/fall release?

[Shroffy123]

Believe the consensus is a March 2024 release.

[RichardGoring]

@Brick Clicker recently said it would be later in the year, and that the spring rumour is false. But nothing other than 'later in the year' stated so far.

[Black Falcon]

Well was there really any rumour stating it would be march? As far as I remember we were only speculating it would come then because Rivendell was released at that time last year.

[NoOneOfImportance]

On 12/5/2023 at 3:58 AM, MAB said:

Yes, some adults collect regular playsets, but they are typically marketed at children. That means that they tend to be sold in many more retail locations than the large adult sets, and so need to shift huge numbers of sets to be worthwhile. A single small battle pack without other sets from the same theme will not sell well in those locations. And if they do a full theme of playsets, they need a huge number of people to buy them hence targetting them at children and not adults. And kids tend to go for what is popular at the time, which is why companies do movie tie-ins.

And that is probably why they didn't do any Indy and Avatar sets, until there were movies out that made those IPs current for kids.

And even then, the Avatar and Indy sets don't seem to be doing all that well outside of the initial rush for Indy ones. 

I would love to see more LOTR sets, but they aren't going to release a ton of Battle Packs without sets to go with them. Those battle packs would fail immediately after the first rush of adult fans got to them, as telling kids they can build a Gondor army without anything else for them to buy feels pointless (even if Orcs were around too). I would enjoy seeing more good LOTR sets, but LEGO couldn't even seem to get classic castle off the ground in 2013 surrounded by Lord of the Rings sets, and all 2014 Hobbit sets had to go on deep clearance on LEGO's site, I doubt they have a lot of faith in the license outside of die-hard adult fans. They created some solid sets to go alongside the Hobbit, and those failed. They aren't going to risk a line of sets now without any tie-in except a vocal but relatively small adult fanbase who would buy them. 

[Lordhelmet]

lets hope they take the extra time till release to come out with a better GWP this time