Trunkbass

^ Well how do we know that the theme is not popular with kids? Aren't we assuming too much that because we AFOLs like it, only adults càn like it? Is there any evidence that kids don't like the Hobbit and LOTR?

Is there anywhere in Europe (the continent, not UK) where you can pick up those polybags, because I've never seen them around and they are way too expensive on amazon.. I would really like them to reveal a new set every week or two. Would be very exciting. We have had our fair share of vague descriptions, let's see pictures instead! :)

Looking at the most comparable existing set, the Weathertop, it'll be only five minifigures of which two are practically confirmed to be named characters (Dain and Thorin). Both sets have around 400 pieces and are priced around 60$. The weathertop had two horses as well, so lets hope for at least a Battle Ram.

Yeah the Mordor orc print thing bugs me too. It's like the largest evil faction of Middle-Earth and you can't build a proper army that is diverse enough. In fact almost all the Mordor orcs were bald (no ears) in sets and one even got a Uruk-Hai helmet, I mean come on?!

It's not as much trying to know what the future of the LOTR theme will be, but as letting thém know we are eager for more. I know al the business stuff is probably more important but if the Customer Services passes through our wishes it's every little bit that can help, in my opinion. Secondly, I agree about the whole over the top 3D movement. In fact I hate watching movies in 3D because it is not comfortable at all. But if this would mean that we'll get more LOTR and Hobbit sets, I would not disaprove at all. After all, you don't nééd to watch them and the LOTR movies have already been made, there is no way they could screw them up by making them in 3D.

^ I agree. Although it is true that we don't need much more sets minifigurewise, the theme is hardly exhausted. I know Star Wars appeals to a much broader audience but Middle-Earth has AT LEAST as much variety for scenes that can be reanacted. Just a LOTR wave 3 would be perfect, but it would be so nice to see both lines continue for a little longer in something like a combined Middle-Earth theme!

Now if Peter Jackson would decide to do a reboot of the LOTR movies in cinemas, but in 3D (like Lucas did with Star Wars) thàt would be a tie in :). And the timing would be perfect. New fans that only saw the Hobbit can enjoy the followup on big screen!

It is time for another official LEGO reply to inquiries about the future of LEGO Middle-Earth: While again pretty standard, they do say that there is not a decision (yet). Assuming they are telling the truth, isn't there a chance that a new LOTR wave could be coming? Let me explain: Hypothetically, if the next LOTR wave would hit the stores, it would be at least six months after Hobbit wave 3 (which would make it spring/summer 2015), and maximum a year after (autumn/winter 2015). How long are sets in production? I believe more than a year, maybe two years, no? If they didn’t decide yet about an exit of (both!) the lines, wouldn’t that mean that there could be something in production? If the end date of the lines is not fixed, then surely they are leaving something open for after the Hobbit wave 3, otherwise they could call it quits right now because the Hobbit sets are obviously finished (maybe only artwork and stuff like that) end they would know the end date. Also: they say the LOTR and Hobbit lines are very popular themes. Then again, the reply could only be a way to keep us in the dark while they know it’s ending after October 2014… I can only say: please keep sending LEGO emails so they know what their fans want, even when they don’t have to listen. And yes, I àm desperate.

As much as I like this line up, I don't think it will happen. There is no way LEGO is going to release a LOTR wave without some the main characters. With that I mean Frodo, Aragorn and maybe Gollum (you already got Gandalf). I mean leaving Frodo out is leaving the ring out, which is the whole point of the Lord of the RINGs. So I think that, however awesome the Sauron prologue set would be, LEGO would replace it with a Mount Doom set (Frodo, Sam, Gollum). You may add Aragorn to the Moria set, although it makes little sense. Wouldn't Smaug be to big to make a Fell Beast out of it? Maybe they kan make the head smaller (but leave the long neck), but still...

^ I couldn't agree more. If the Middle-Earth themes end because of poor sales than LEGO plays a big part in it. It's beyond ridiculous to include Smaug in the Erebor set for the third wave. He doesn't come even remotely near the insides of the mountain in the third film and what parents will pay 130 bucks for a (awesome, it has to be admitted) dragon?

^ LEGO should see this

+1 for new orc helmets! I do fear that if we gave only 5 minifigs in the BOFA sets there will not be any room for generic soldiers, at least no good ones like armored dwarves. We will probably get: Thorin (he is not in Erebor) Dain (crucial new character) Gandalf (LEGO wouldn't resist) Azog/Bolg (this set needs a main villain, probably Azog if Bolg is in Laketown) Another evil character to balance it out (generic orc, warg or bat maybe) In an ideal world this set should have 7+ characters and function as a big army builder with 2-3 main characters (Thorin, Dain, armored Thranduil - please leave Gandalf out unless you give him a new hairpiece) and 2-3 generic soldiers per side (1 armored elf, 1 armored dwarf, 2 armored Orcs) plus one or two molded creatures like Beorn bear/eagle and bat/warg. Although probably expensive, I would buy at least four of these with this minifigure selection (if they announce it on time so I can save up ;) ). However they probably gonna favour main characters over grunts :'(

^ I couldn't agree more however I would like an armored orc too, especially a new helmet to get more variety in my evil army. I'm not interested in armored elves. LEGO got their chance in the second wave and look how the epic elf guards from the movie are translated to the armybuilder set...

Well, not 'very many more' would be better than nothing.. No?

@The Real Walkers: probably the tower with the crossbowthing on it. I believe it was referred to ad a Bell Tower in the reports on one of the earlier toy fairs.

Great idea about the Shadow of Mordor set, an ideal way for getting more varation in the Mordor orcs. It's actually stuff like that (high profile games with new technology - reminds me of The Force Unleashed back in the days by the way) that could get the Middle Earth themes to continue. Gaming is huge nowadays and could boost the ongoing interest in the Tolkien world, which can boost interest in LEGO LOTR. @Blakstone: didn't get you there, are you being ironic? :)

Has there been any info on the (absence of an) advertisement for LOTR in the construction booklet the Brothers Workshop probably got for the Smaug video? Just sent another email to LEGO, if we keep letting them know what we want...

On the websites of TRU shops in Germany, the Netherlands and France the range of Hobbit and LOTR sets is horrible. I hope this is just temporarily. Thanks, this is really helpful. I thought about Helm's Deep and Uruk-hai Army too, but they are really hard to find for a good price nowadays, which is logical. I'll just try to stack up Bag Ends and Orthancs then. Thanks everybody for the input!

Okay, Smaug is definitely the coolest molded LEGO dragon ever, but compared to Helms Deep - about the same retail price - this is completely lacking.

That's why I think we should buy now (or should have bought LOTR wave 1 sets in 2012) and sell when the LOTR line has ended for at least a year or two. If you don't mind the wait. Usually I only look for deals on Amazon, but that's nearly never 50%. In Belgium, where I live, we don't have Wallmart, Toys'R Us or shops like that with polybags and big clearances. Most shops that I go through are even more expensive than the official LEGO prices. By the way, the official LEGO store has clearances with 50% off from time to time. It's just that you have to see it on time. All the cheap Hobbit sets that were half the price on there were already discontinued when I got to see the discount Yes, I don't mind the wait actually, in the end it just has to be worth it. I don't expect to get ten times retail price like the Star Wars Exclusive Millennium Falcon nowadays, but at least double would be nice. I know I missed the boat on a lot of sets, but 'An Unexpected Gathering' is still not discontinued and can be bought for a nice price! Yeah, I know. I will always regret only buying two of them because they weren't 'good deals' at the time..

Yeah, I know right? But it has been a long time since I saw those LEGO coins used in new sets ( at least in the ones that I've bought.. )

Hi, I was wondering if anybody has any experience with investing in LEGO sets. With this I mean buying full sets now, leave them sealed and sell them in a couple of years for a higher price. I would like to invest only in LOTR and Hobbit sets, as I am only collecting those at the moment and if my investment won't work out, I'll still have sets that I like. First of all, is there anybody here who does that? Is it profitable? Secondly, are the LOTR and Hobbit themes interesting for doing this? Which sets would you recommend? I was thinking of 'An Unexpected Gathering' and 'The Tower of Orthanc' because I think they're both quite iconic and I believe relatively popular. Lastly, I think right now is a fairly good time to start (albeit a little too late for LOTR wave one sets like Helms Deep) because it seems like after the third Hobbit wave (and maybe the third LOTR one in 2015) the Middle-Earth theme will come to an end. What do you think?

True, I hope that is a good sign, they split the original second wave en left the best part for last as the new third wave. But it could be the other way around though.. Is there any proof that Helms Deep wasn't a great seller? It seemed to do well in my area (Belgium). Although I have to admit I got from Amazon at a big discount.

Nice build, I like the crooked roof! Cool smoke too. Are those lego ice-cream molds?

Good idea! I voted :)