LOTR & The Hobbit 2013 Set Discussion

[deskp]

My suspicion is this will be a fairly small wave. Remember TLG originally planned sets for 2 movies, hence two major waves. 2 sets based on the contents of this movie haves already been released making two holes in their plans. But further remember that their original production schedule would have had them including sets that are now related to TABA in this wave. So chances are those wave didn't lose 2 sets to fill, it lost 3 or 4.

Now some more bad news. These are licensed sets. Even with an accelerated schedule to fill in the gaps, there are still some long lead times needed. Each new set to plug a hole must be evaluated and approved by the license holder. At the same time that said license holder was stressed and stretched to the breaking point turning 2 movies into 3. So there is probably a question of how many new sets they could have done. Add to this that most of the 18 month lead time will be eaten up by actual production needs. Art, packaging, brick making, shipping, etc, and chances are the Lego design team only had a few weeks to make replacement sets. So replacement sets will not be huge complicated or spectacular. They will probably be more akin to Iron Mans flaming golf cart of doom. Any big spectacular stuff will be sets that were already in the pipeline. So maybe 2-3 long planned sets and 2-3 new fillers?

Finally there are a few subjects we can all but rule out, and a few that we can kind of zero in on. Remember Lego is working off concept art and early ideas. Stuff that changed or was expanded since they decided to do 3 movies probably will not be made yet as sets. We will not see a big Dul Guldur set (unless they had some real good concept art.) we may see a Beorn's House set however. The art and actual set photos of that have been out and available since TUJ, and I think that Bag End has been the overall top seller of Middle Earth sets. Beorn's House may be thought to have a similar appeal. I am betting against. Mirkwood set just because we already have two. Although that may be a more viable area for a filler set as they have long seen art for those scenes as they were planned for TUJ.

Anything that PJ and crew have been very hush hush about is unlikely to make it into this wave. With the big candidate being Smaug. I'm betting if we get a good look at him from any source at Comic Con next week, then we may see him in a set. But if no toy maker has a good detailed Smaug out on display yet, then chances are we might not see him until the next wave.

1,5 years is enough for lego to complete good sets. also keep in mind the majority of the DOS shoot was completed last year, so there is enough images etc for lego to work of that isn't just concept art, concept art they use will be stuff that will make it into the movie.

Remember they were shooting uintill july/august last year, and the sets turned out good for AUJ. The odds are in legos favor that DOS will be as good or better.

Dol guldor was always in the hobbit movies, it's potentially been expanded on with the 3 movie switch but it was always there. We saw the film sets for Dol guldr ages ago in the vid diary.

Lego have had enough time to make the wave be what they want it to be. Keep in mind LOTR wave 2 was something very different to the first one aswell. unless there are more "preview sets" we can't be sure any of it was affected by the trilogy change.

Also the appeal of bag end is that its featured prominently for both lotr and hobbit, (aswell as being a very good looking complete set)

[Fives]

Expecting the DOS wave to be the same size as the second LOTR wave is a bit weird. The reason we only got four normal sets was because of Orthanc. Had we not gotten a big exclusive, the LOTR wave could've had two more sets. So, since the likelihood of a big exclusive is very slim, the DOS wave should be at least 6 sets, but it could be more to help cover all the material that will be showcased in the film. Unless they do a fourth Hobbit wave to make up for scenes they missed from all three films (c'mon LEGO, gives us Roast Mutton!)

[Captain Settle]

(c'mon LEGO, gives us Roast Mutton!)

The problem with a troll scene is that each troll would drag the price up by at least £5. Then add in normal minifigs which could account to £15 extra. That's £30 at least before you've even started the build. The license is for building toys, so TLC will have to make a good build to justify the price. Before you know it, you have a £100 set, and there has to be less sets in the wave.

Now another scenario: Lego does a medium sized set but only gives us one troll. LEGO fans would start going crazy about not getting 3 trolls.

A troll set is really a lose-lose situation.

[Leo604]

I'm not exactly crazy about a troll set either; the molds will probably be exactly the same or similar to the Cave-troll from Mines of Moria so it wouldn't be anything new or special.

[SheepEater]

1,5 years is enough for lego to complete good sets. also keep in mind the majority of the DOS shoot was completed last year, so there is enough images etc for lego to work of that isn't just concept art, concept art they use will be stuff that will make it into the movie.

Remember they were shooting uintill july/august last year, and the sets turned out good for AUJ. The odds are in legos favor that DOS will be as good or better.

I like you line of thinking. I really, really hope you're right.

I also agree that a Roast Mutton set wouldn't be very Lego-esque.

Besides having a high price point, what's there to build besides a few trees, fireplace and a small pile a rocks?

Boring and expensive.

Edited July 14, 2013 by SheepEater

[Fives]

They could pull off a troll set if it were done as an exclusive for the Hobbit, like Orthanc is for LOTR. Some trees, the fire, and the cave is the gulf, and then give us Bilbo and a few dwarves.

[SheepEater]

... you're comparing Orthanc with a very minor, humoristic scene from the Hobbit... really?

One is the massive, imposing stronghold of an important antagonist who features prominently in 2/3 of the LOTR trilogy, features tons of interesting neat building , while the other is just 3 trolls who get turned to stone simply because they were dumb?

[Almaras22]

They could pull off a troll set if it were done as an exclusive for the Hobbit, like Orthanc is for LOTR. Some trees, the fire, and the cave is the gulf, and then give us Bilbo and a few dwarves.

But compare that to possible exclusives suck as Erebor or Laketown and, in my eyes, there's no competition. I'd love to have a Roast Mutton scene, but I just can't see how it could be feasible, unless they are brick built - in which case it would make more sense to have them in their stone form as seen in TLotR (when Aragorn and the hobbits pass through in the extended edition).

[Faefrost]

1,5 years is enough for lego to complete good sets. also keep in mind the majority of the DOS shoot was completed last year, so there is enough images etc for lego to work of that isn't just concept art, concept art they use will be stuff that will make it into the movie.

Remember they were shooting uintill july/august last year, and the sets turned out good for AUJ. The odds are in legos favor that DOS will be as good or better.

Dol guldor was always in the hobbit movies, it's potentially been expanded on with the 3 movie switch but it was always there. We saw the film sets for Dol guldr ages ago in the vid diary.

18 months I would think is nearing the bare minimum for licensed sets. Further compounded by scheduling conflicts because the license holders people would suddenly be swamped by redesigns from the licensee's, and that TLG would have to pull resources back onto this project to do this. It's not just a matter of how long they need to design new sets. It's how long to design them, get them approved, redesign if not, art designs, inventory scheduling, production scheduling, packaging, etc. it's a complicated dance. More so then we the customers will ever realize.

We may see a Dol Gular based set. But I strongly suspect that it will not be anything huge. Maybe Gandalf, Rhadagast an undead foe and some grey walls and steps. Some of the visual elements may be known, but the scene certainly isn't and they can't cheat it by using stuff from the book as a basis. And yeah there were a ton of these type cheats in TUJ.

[deskp]

18 months I would think is nearing the bare minimum for licensed sets. Further compounded by scheduling conflicts because the license holders people would suddenly be swamped by redesigns from the licensee's, and that TLG would have to pull resources back onto this project to do this. It's not just a matter of how long they need to design new sets. It's how long to design them, get them approved, redesign if not, art designs, inventory scheduling, production scheduling, packaging, etc. it's a complicated dance. More so then we the customers will ever realize.

18 months is long enough, 6 months designing the sets and 1 year of production. or the other way around however it is it's not that short a time.

Lisencor approval is less complicated than people would think. Just see the stuff lego has got away with in the past. lego gets away with mroe stuff cause of their abstract-ish way of doing stuff

As for dol goldur, i don't think that'll be a huuge set either, the structire itself doesent make a great model in my opinion.

It's a good opportunity for both Radagast and Bolg though.. with tharin thrown in perhaps.

no undead foes. unless by that you eman the nazgul ghost creatures. there won't be any zombies

[Gryphon Ink]

18 months I would think is nearing the bare minimum for licensed sets. Further compounded by scheduling conflicts because the license holders people would suddenly be swamped by redesigns from the licensee's, and that TLG would have to pull resources back onto this project to do this. It's not just a matter of how long they need to design new sets. It's how long to design them, get them approved, redesign if not, art designs, inventory scheduling, production scheduling, packaging, etc. it's a complicated dance. More so then we the customers will ever realize.

Yes, it's a complicated dance. But it's a dance TLG have been practicing for as long as there have been licensed themes. And they don't need to follow the exact final designs of the movies. The Warg Attack set looks nothing like the final scene in the film. It doesn't even feature the same antagonists. It's obviously a product that was designed partly based on early concept art and partly on the descriptions in the book. And lo and behold, it was approved by the license holders.

Did you see the Fountain of Youth set from POTC? That thing didn't bear the slightest resemblance to the fountain that we saw in the movie. Disney didn't care. They just wanted the money. As long as the set was "good enough" that it didn't dilute their brand, they really weren't going to send the thing back for rewrites.

It's the same with Middle-Earth Enterprises and TLG. We talk too much around here about artistic vision and sets being faithful to the movies and suchlike matters as if they were the bottom line. They aren't. The decision to mount flick-fire missiles on Weathertop was not based on being faithful to the movie. It was based on putting action features in a toy because kids like action features, so TLG thought they might sell a few more sets because of it. And, again, MIE approved it without reservations.

Bottom line, I don't know how many sets are going to be in this wave any more than anyone else here. But if it's a small wave, it won't be because TLG didn't have time to design and produce a bigger one. It will be because they decided for reasons unknown to put the money somewhere else.

[deskp]

Now that it's monday(ish) it'll be interesting to see if last year repeats itself and we get a minifig preview reveal ahead of comic con. I so much hope we get to see a Thranduil fig this week, but I'm fairly sceptic to weather he'll be made at all.

It might be that they do it for a NEW theme again wich won't mean hobbit this time.

[Fives]

Now that it's monday(ish) it'll be interesting to see if last year repeats itself and we get a minifig preview reveal ahead of comic con. I so much hope we get to see a Thranduil fig this week, but I'm fairly sceptic to weather he'll be made at all.

It might be that they do it for a NEW theme again wich won't mean hobbit this time.

Why are you worried he won't be made? He's a major part of the story! Way more important that Yazneg was in AUJ, and we got him!

[Str0ngbad]

Why are you worried he won't be made? He's a major part of the story! Way more important that Yazneg was in AUJ, and we got him!

I agree that we'll get Thranduil but to my understanding, Yazneg was the primary antagonist at the time the sets were designed and that's why all the toy companies made Yazneg instead of Azog. Anyway, I wouldn't be worried about him deskp. It's characters like Beorn and Radagast that I'm a tad uncertain about.

[deskp]

Why are you worried he won't be made? He's a major part of the story! Way more important that Yazneg was in AUJ, and we got him!

I agree that we'll get Thranduil but to my understanding, Yazneg was the primary antagonist at the time the sets were designed and that's why all the toy companies made Yazneg instead of Azog. Anyway, I wouldn't be worried about him deskp. It's characters like Beorn and Radagast that I'm a tad uncertain about.

I think the chanses of thranduil is higher in TABA wave cause of the action, but i want him in his "classic" costume.

As for Yazneg, when lego made him he was Azog. So the intention was to put Azog in the set.

[Seaber]

A possible set to set the standard for a Roast Mutton set would be the Rancor Pit. The set is essentially a way for fans to get a Rancor. If that Rancor was replaced with three Trolls (I'd be perfectly happy with the Mountain Troll mold used in dark tan or something similar with individual faces) and Luke, Malakili and the Gamorrean replaced with Bilbo, Gandalf and two or three Dwarves (two on the spit and one in a sack for example), I think the minifigure and creature balance is pretty equal. The Rancor Pit set features an open cage with not a huge amount of bricks. A cliff that breaks, a spit, a camp fire, as well as some rocks and bushes could fill up this set.

So I think it's feasible that Roast Mutton could be a set.

[TheLegoDr]

I guess that is possible. The Rancor Pit was definitely only there to sell a Rancor because the build took less than 10 minutes I bet. It had 360 pieces for $60...definitely only made for the Rancor mold.

Now to put 3 cave trolls in that same set plus 4 figures, I don't know if that is the same "balance." The cave troll isn't huge and the Rancor is, but still that's a lot of extra in the Hobbit set that I wouldn't see happening.

Granted they gave a very Treebeard-like Ent in the Orthanc set, so I hope they don't assume we will be happy with that Ent when we want the actual Treebeard. It'd be the same with the die hards that want 3 trolls in that set. It is possible they release one and call it good. But in the end, I don't see that set happening since that movie is over and done with. They will probably continue to look ahead.

I know very little about Middle Earth even though I love it, so I won't make any guesses to what we would expect for sets or figures. All I care about is more Elves.

[Darth Malgus]

I hope they don't do sets from AUJ, would like to see more sets out of what is coming although we did get two DOS sets with the barrels and mirkwood in prior release so who knows (yes, I am aware that these were created when the movie was intended to be 2 instead of the trilogy we will now have).

I'd like to see more from the next two films as I feel there is more in them than the first. The 5 armies battle could be quite good if we could get a set from that when the third movie is released. I'd hope for a Bolg minifig then.

[Faefrost]

Now that it's monday(ish) it'll be interesting to see if last year repeats itself and we get a minifig preview reveal ahead of comic con. I so much hope we get to see a Thranduil fig this week, but I'm fairly sceptic to weather he'll be made at all.

It might be that they do it for a NEW theme again wich won't mean hobbit this time.

I suspect if or when we get a Thranduil fig it will be in a TABA set. In the original 2 movie design TUJ would have ended with the barrel escape, So That would have been one big chance for his appearance. If thy didn't use him then, in those two first wave Mirkwood sets, then we may not see him until the third movie and a set related to the Battle of Five Armies.

[deskp]

I suspect if or when we get a Thranduil fig it will be in a TABA set. In the original 2 movie design TUJ would have ended with the barrel escape, So That would have been one big chance for his appearance. If thy didn't use him then, in those two first wave Mirkwood sets, then we may not see him until the third movie and a set related to the Battle of Five Armies.

There could be a set with the "orc invasion" tht ends in an interogation and eventuality Thranduil offing an orc. This set has the potential for Azog aswell.

(random scramblings from the trailer)

But sadly I agree with your assesment x]

[coolguy2323]

As long as we get a Dol Guldur set for DOS I will be happy. I've wanted to see that scene on screen ever since I figured out where Gandalf went during the second part of the Hobbit book

[deskp]

As long as we get a Dol Guldur set for DOS I will be happy. I've wanted to see that scene on screen ever since I figured out where Gandalf went during the second part of the Hobbit book

We dont know if THAT SCENE is in DOS or TABA or if it'll even be what the book says. I think a mines of moria/ goblin king-ish set could be appropriate for fo what that scene could be x]

[Str0ngbad]

We dont know if THAT SCENE is in DOS or TABA or if it'll even be what the book says. I think a... goblin king-ish set could be appropriate for what that scene could be x]

In the name of all that is good please don't say that again. ;( I too am very much looking forward to Dol Goldur's inclusion in the films and badly want a set. The Goblin King in the film and his LEGO set were both abysmal to me. I don't know if I could take it if it were the goblin king equivalent in the movie or LEGO. O_o

[Dr.Cogg]

What if Lego made the Dol gulder set like the Vampire castle.

[kermit]

I know lego always like to end a theme with a big exclusive set for example kingdoms. With the tower of orthanc set does that mean that the LOTR sets will be given a break and lego will focus more on the hobbit sets since there will be two more movies coming out?