LEGOLAND Florida PR - Indy, Batman and Bob to return?

[Blondie-Wan]

As noted in the topic description, this is probably just a pipe dream fueled by little more than carelessly-crafted promotional copy, but since it is there in black-and-white, I thought I'd go ahead and mention it, just in case...

This article on the upcoming LEGOLAND Florida has a nice rundown of the basic information concerning the park's attractions and other details, including this odd tidbit about one of the stores in the park area known as Fun Town:

• Studio Store – Pick-up all your favorite Lego licensed products, like Clutch Powers, Bob the Builder, SpongeBob, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Batman.

Ok, so "Studio Store" = a store dedicated to stuff from themes based around various screen characters and other licensed properties; that makes sense. But Indiana Jones? Batman? Bob the Builder? None of those are currently in production as LEGO themes, though hopes for returns spring eternal. Another oddity is Clutch Powers - not really a licensed theme despite being the very first example cited after "licensed products," but since Clutch is still a character from narrative media (a straight-to-video movie, in this case), it still fits (since the important distinction of "Studio Store" for patrons is surely that it offers stuff based around various movies and shows and whatnot, not that it offers stuff licensed by LEGO from various rightsholders).

I'm inclined to think whoever drew up the description simply pasted in a list of licensed properties from some other, older press release (perhaps one from a few years ago describing a similar store at one of the other parks?), and didn't update it to reflect current licenses... but I don't think Clutch Powers debuted until after at least one or two of those licensed themes had been discontinued (or put on hiatus), and Harry Potter certainly didn't return until after both Indiana Jones and Batman had been. Like I said, it's probably just wishful thinking... but (to clutch at straws), could there be something more here? Is it possible those licensed themes will be back by the latter part of this year, when the park opens?

[mania3]

Former LEGOLAND, California employee. Unfortunately, this is just a carryover blurb they used to describe the Studio Store here over the years. They even had, until very recently, the logo for Batman LEGO sets lining the store walls. So, it's a sign of nothing more than the disconnect between PR and product awareness. Even after all these years, LEGOLAND's retail departments do not take the rabidness of the LEGO fan seriously enough.

[Blondie-Wan]

Yeah, that's exactly what I thought it probably was, but I did say hope springs eternal. Ah, well. Thanks for the information, at least.

[Vindicare]

I wouldn't mind Spiderman and/or Batman to return. I totally missed out on Spidey, they could make some kick megablocks sets nowadays. I had almost all the Batman wave 1 sets, but needed to make room and gave them to my neighbors son...regretting that move A LOT!

[insanerobo]

But Clutch Powers is a new Lego product. Wouldn't you think that they would have changed Batman, Indy, and Bob if they were editing the blurb, they would get rid of those names. ;)

[Clone OPatra]

Clutch Powers is not a new LEGO product. Clutch Powers is barely a LEGO product at all; it's just a film. It came out last year, when Indy was still available, and it was probably just an addition to a preexisting blurb in the first place.

Spongebob is of course going to return; the other two are not. Perhaps when the new films in each of those series come out we might get some new sets, but I wouldn't count on it. This blurb signifies nothing.

[AndyC]

Well technically there is still Lego Indy and Batman merchandise available, in the form of the video games. So if they're on sale it's kind of accurate, if slightly confusing.

[Euvor]

I remember it having been said somewhere, that Indy would only be paused to make room for Prince of Persia at the time. I guess it would be a plausible idea that they make new sets at some point. Isn't there going to be fifth movie too?

[Blondie-Wan]

I remember it having been said somewhere, that Indy would only be paused to make room for Prince of Persia at the time. I guess it would be a plausible idea that they make new sets at some point. Isn't there going to be fifth movie too?

Maybe. The powers-that-be behind the Indy movies have indicated they'd like to do one more and they are exploring ideas for another movie, but they haven't committed to it yet.

I think it's a reasonably safe assumption that if there's a fifth film, the LEGO theme will resume, but beyond that all is unclear.

[simonjedi]

From forbidden planet:

Batman 'Snap' T-shirt

So Lego hasn't completely got rid of the license, they just don't make sets

[Blondie-Wan]

From forbidden planet:

Batman 'Snap' T-shirt

So Lego hasn't completely got rid of the license, they just don't make sets

Zounds. That's kind of dark for LEGO, isn't it? I mean, sure, that happened in the comics upon which the theme is based, but still... but then, the cute factor intrinsic to minifigures combined with the fact they are construction toys after all probably makes it palatable to TLG.

Still interesting and surprising, though. I'd think it might be an unlicensed shirt merely "referencing" LEGO Batman without actually using the trademark, were it not for the actual LEGO Batman logo there at the bottom left of the design.

Anyway... TLG has shown it's willing to put a licensed theme on hiatus a while and bring it back (Harry Potter being the obvious example). Perhaps we'll get more sets around the time of the next movie.

[demonash]

i would grab the batman and spiderman sets if it returns

[legolegolegolego]

Unless the minifigures were modified in some manner, I imagine new Batman releases would bring down the prices of the old figures and sets, e.g., would a new release of Joker impact the $45 price tags that are fairly common? Does Lego concern itself with the collectible value of previous releases when contemplating bringing them back to market? Did it impact Harry Potter as someone mentioned it was put on hiatus? Perhaps not though, if it was known it would return.

- Michael