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Given that the Simpsons did variants of the family for the second series I could see variants of Mickey appearing in future series (assuming it does continue) - e.g; series one: Standard Mickey (as generally depicted in modern disney merch and cartoons) series two: Classic Mickey (as in Steamboat Willie styled, potentially greyscale/black and white style colouring, but definitely with the classic style eyes - would go well with an Oswald in the same series series 3: Fantasia Mickey, to me this seems like a really obvious one to do, have a broom and a bucket as accessories (wouldn't even need to be new moulds) so they could either do a new head mould or if this one was pre planned, have a way to add a hat to the head (personally new head seems more likely) Equally it would be interesting to see some of the princess characters redone as minifigures, and I can't see a logical reason for them not to, after all we have characters that have appeared as several different types of figure in the past before (Duplo/4 Junior/standard) - there might not be a standard for it happening with minidolls, but I don't see that as a really strong argument for it not happening. Regarding all the Pluto debate, I think he's unlikely in the first series, but given that Disney parks have an anthropomorphised mascot version, I could see a standard minifigure being based on him in this form. I'm a sucker for moulded animals so I'd prefer him done more like Scooby Doo, which could hypothetically happen, but basically I wouldn't write anything off as impossible at this point - unlikely maybe, just not impossible.

*Prefacing this by saying that I don't believe anything until there is an official source, I mean that as no disrespect to those posting stuff about prelims, but I remember last years prelim leak with the Superheroes sets that had a lot of stand in figures, including Marvel characters in DC sets etc* It seemed fairly clear to me from the first mentions of Nexo Knights that this is going to be another Ninjago - I think that's a better comparison than Chima. The sketches do look believable to what we might expect from LEGO on a Big Bang theme. Ultimately there's a lot of potentially useful stuff there and potentially some parts that could be reclaimed for Castle type building, but ultimately this is looking to be far more Sci-Fi than castle - in fact I'd go as far as saying it's Sci-fi dressed with a castle influence more than anything else. I'm not a massive fan of the Big Bang themes, but I do like a few Chima sets and have bought a few Ninjago sets for parts/figures in the past, so ultimately when these sets come out it'll be a case of figuring out how much each one might be worth to me and waiting to see if they are ever available at that price. One thing that will really be a waste with this theme is if they include any sort of laser swords - we have Star Wars LEGO for light sabres, no need to add them to any other theme!

Actually I think the reason for what you are calling creative themes is due to the success of Ninjago - as an AFOL I hated Ninjago when it came out, I've slowly come round to some parts of it...but kids generally want OTT wacky adventure themes, not just from LEGO but from just about everything...it's the reason that Power Rangers is still getting constantly updated and remade. I've come to accept that while a lot of themes don't appeal to me as a whole many have something that I can enjoy. Some of the Chima sets actually had cracking designs - I didn't like the setting of the theme, mixing Sci-Fi and fantasy doesn't appeal to me (so I imagine Nexo Knights won't appeal to me as a theme) but take the Chima mini figures for purely anthropomorphic animal fantasy builds and use the sets that I liked as a basis for sci-fi builds and the theme has a purpose for me. Same goes for ninjago - a lot of the mini figures work for fantasy/historical settings (some are admittedly more use for sci-fi) and the mechs and whacky vehicles can serve as parts for sci-fi builds. I think the sad thing that we have to accept is that traditional Castle themes might* never get more than a single, small wave run at a time now, but to be fair as long as licenced themes like LOTR come around every now and again to give use some kind of Castle style sets I'll be happy. *felt the need to highlight the might as it seemed the sort of comment that a lot of people might jump on as something to argue against - I'm just expressing my opinion on a possibility not saying it's what will happen.

@Isundir - Some AFOLs do seem completely blind to the fact that we are a secondary demographic for LEGO...the fact that there are any AFOL marketed sets is a blessing to me.

I would imagine that as long as Nexo Knights lasts there won't be a Castle theme out alongside it.

I would bet vast sums of money on it being another Ariel Minidoll rather than a minifigure - I'd love to be wrong but I don't see it happening!

I think the biggest issue I'm having with what we know so far is that when I hear anything about Sci-fi knights I can't imagine anything capturing that idea better than Star Wars... I'll reserve judgement for now, I like the idea of getting Robot Horses, but not for castle type stuff, and I would prefer some dragons...at least Elves next year has a distinct dragon theme going on!

I really didn't like Chima at first, once I built Eris Eagle Interceptor I got the whole thinking with the theme and actually quite like some sets from the theme...that said if we get a castle theme that has Jets and Tanks instead of dragons and siege towers then I will be quite disappointed. I am trying to keep expectations low...it's just difficult with all the not knowing!

interesting that there seems to be such a focus on dragons, I wonder if they'll go for moulded dragon pieces - and bigger ones than the one Elves dragon we've had so far - or brick built like some of the ninjago ones.

There is a certain logic in the September release, in that it's when other Halloween stuff starts getting stocked by shops

I do find it funny people knocking the "rehashed" figures in CMF line ups. I get it, as an adult collector there's a massive element of wanting unique figures, but equally a lot of kids getting this series would have been too young for series 1 so it makes sense to me to see new zombies etc. I will admit I hated the female cyclops figure from a couple of series before, that one was awful, but to me as long as the design looks obviously different I don't mind, helps with figures fir MOCs.

To my eye it doesn't look any smaller than a Chima head. It might be a moulded head, that's what I originally thought, but it does seem strange making a new mould so similar to the Monster Fighters werewolf head so soon after for no apparent reason. The mask idea does have a certain logic, of course we won't know until it makes it to the shops or images of the head on it's own leak.

I would guess that if there is a head under the werewolf head it would probably have a print similar to the older CMF werewolf - in the same way that the Chima heads had a print like a flattened version of the moulded head. Could be blank though, but it seems more likely to me that there would at least be something on the head.

I don't think LEGO would make a set with the word Suicide on it, it'll just be something that rubs a lot of people up the wrong way and leads to another media mass complaint. However, what they might do is something similar to how they did an X-Men set with a sentinel at a convenient time to cash in on Days of Future Past. The hypothetical Not Suicide Squad set might have to use a bit of artistic licence to get around the obvious source, but that could pay off...e.g the scene with the joker and harley in the car - the joker's costume looks to be based on the Dark Knight Returns costume - so if LEGO do a mini figure design between the two (basically don't show any of the tattoos which are specific to the SS film) and have a set with Joker and Harley in a red sports car and Batman chasing them in some ridiculous (but small) Bat-vehicle (I'm thinking motor bike or glider) then it would basically be a Suicide Squad set but with the leeway for LEGO to say it isn't.

Ah, hadn't seen that image, only the one from the checklist. From that photo I do see what you mean about the possibility of it being a mask too...which could explain the development of a new mould as there is likely at least concepts for a wave 2 of the Scooby Doo theme so more villains to unmask would be a necessity.

I'm still unconvinced on the werewolf head...I can see the differences described but it looks like it could equally be down to angle/post processing, in the same way that there is a slight glow effect on the ghoul's head, it doesn't necessarily mean the part will be GITD, it could but might not. I don't think it could be a mask piece either, it doesn't look the right dimensions to accommodate a mini figure head inside. It could be a new part, but until I see it in hand I'm going to assume it's the same part in a new colour. If it is new, I do think it was a bit of a waste of money developing it when there is a near identical mould ready made - even if they needed to remake the moulds because they were damaged, etc they should still be cheaper to reproduce than design a completely new one.

I've seen a few comments about the werewolf's head being a new piece, but I'm almost certain it's the monster fighters werewolf head in a new colour. CMFs are often used to introduce new moulds that might be used in sets later, yes moulds are expensive to produce, but the average price per piece of a CMF is normally at least 3x that of most standard sets...thats part of the reason for the high prices of CMFs, they are using it as a development line.

They could potentially do a Jurassic Park sub theme (as in based on the first three films) between now and the release of Jurassic World 2 if they think there is still good demand for more sets.

Really think I might buy a full box for the first time ever, so much potential with these figures, even if some are just of specific parts of the figures.

I think that's a regional thing, I don't know about the rest of europe but certainly in the UK we would call it a Fuel or Petrol Tanker rather than gas tanker. Nothing to stop LEGO giving them different names between US and Europe though. With the success of the LEGO movie I think capitalising on the better public knowlegde of the Octan brand could be clever, but equally, some kids might now see Octan as the evil corporation and think of anything associated with being the baddies.

Those Fantasy era ones don't look particularly steam punk to me, but I see what you are getting at, especially as what we are being told is that it's a slight steam punk influence, rather than full on steam punk. Those Fright Knights ones, if we get some Dragon powered airships I'm all for that...any excuse for more dragons and I'm happy.

I saw that and smiled at the idea of cheap castle parts packs :-)

Just struck by a thought, Friends recently had the animal rescue sub theme, which was pretty much a safari like theme.

Agree on circus, but most modern zoos are about education and conservation, for the most part the days of misinformed animal liberators breaking open cages is behind us as most people interested in animal welfare tend to actually learn about the animals now and realise that zoos have an important role in conservation. Also there has been Duplo zoo themes so it does seem a possibility. Safari theme might be a happy medium, as long as it's an excuse to get lots of moulded animal parts I'd basically be happy ;-)

If LEGO ever did do a Zoo sub theme of City I would suddenly be a lot more interested in City sets! A nice big Zoo display is one of those things on my ever growing to do list.