TheDoctor

Haha, I agree., this thread seems to run on speculation and wishlists. Just setting yourselves up for disappointment.

Very surprised the video is still up! They may as well just do the reveal now, seeing as it's being discussed on large YouTube Channels and Lego News sites...

It's still on r/LegoNewsAndRumours and it still looks spectacular! Wow, what a set, I'd have no problem if this was the last set they release to round-off LotR. Great value too, hopefully the rumoured price doesn't change.

I was actually thinking they'll use the square hole on the back of headlight bricks for the various windows dotted around, given the likely scale of the build.

@VBBN Hoping for a Mod to review the recent (or not so recent request in my case) requests for a name change, please

If they didn't do that with the Flagship Death Star, doubt they'd do it again for this. At least we'll be getting a slow trickle of leaks over the coming weeks

Yes, I remember that. It's the reason that larger sets have separate internal boxes, not to break up the build, but to add structure to the box and stop the bottom falling out! Pleased they're going 'all-out' on the set though, a final swan song for the LotR theme. (Still reckon we'll get some Hunt for Gollum sets later too)

This is a bit of a no-brainer now we have wireless charging, surprised it hasn't happened yet. Be interested to see which set Palpatine comes in... (Still crazy that we don't know exactly what these things are going to do yet)

I actually think that's a detractor for the site and makes it feel very cliquey. I've seen good comments and topics drowned by endless repeat discussion on the same inane topics (printing, predictions, dual-molding, pricing). It's one of the reasons that I don't closely follow the LOTR thread. There's only so many wishlists, predictions and constant discussions about things that will never happen (modular Minas Tirith ) that I can stand. And coming back here to a repeat post about a Tie Avenger every day just isn't appealing or funny any more, just seems like spam. ______________________________ One of the few positives I can recall recently was at least a balanced and considered discussion on the new DS rather than just jumping on the bandwagon and slating it.

I think what we'll actually see is something more like this 'Magic Wand' TV remote (actually a very good product!) https://www.thewandcompany.com/kymera-wand/ It responds to taps, rolls, back & forth motions, flicking up and down with each movement performing a different function. Similar to the recent Micro Galaxy Squadron Falcon and Ghost that made different noises and lights based on movements. Taking into account R&D & miniature (more expensive) components, I get why it costs so much, especially if it has a scanner too like those early concepts with the jungle sets.

Here ya go, a lot of them are from designer interviews and conversations with LAN members... Nightmare Before Christmas (21351, 2024): Disney/Tim Burton tamed Jack Skellington’s house. https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-21351-the-nightmare-before-christmas/ (Jay's Brick Blog, August 17, 2024) Star Wars UCS Death Star (75419, 2025): Disney approved Rogue One figures (Galen Erso, Krennic) after LEGO persuasion. https://www.brickfanatics.com/lego-convince-disney-galen-erso-death-star/ (Brick Fanatics, September 6, 2025) Magic of Disney (21352, 2024): Disney swapped Mickey/Pinocchio for modern characters (Bruno, Lilo). https://www.brickfanatics.com/compare-lego-ideas-magic-disney-to-original/ (Brick Fanatics, September 12, 2024) Star Wars Boba Fett’s Starship (75312, 2021): Renamed from “Slave I.” https://comicbook.com/starwars/news/disney-lego-rename-boba-fett-slave-1-ship-star-wars/ (ComicBook.com, October 5, 2024) Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship (10365, 2025): Renamed from “Black Pearl.” https://www.thebrickfan.com/lego-answers-why-captain-jack-sparrows-pirate-ship-10365-not-named-black-pearl/ (The Brick Fan, August 27, 2025) Disney Princess to LEGO Disney (2017): Shifted to minidolls, rebranded. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Disney (Wikipedia, August 27, 2025) Star Wars Mos Eisley Cantina (75290, 2020): Swapped obscure aliens for Greedo. https://www.thebrickfan.com/lego-star-wars-mos-eisley-cantina-75290-minifigures-review/ (The Brick Fan, September 13, 2020) Disney Castle (43222, 2023): Avoided Cinderella figure for multi-film nods. https://www.brickfanatics.com/43222-disney-castle-minifigures-cover-3-classic-disney-eras/ (Brick Fanatics, June 21, 2023) Star Wars AT-AT (75313, 2021): Reduced interior for film-accurate exterior. https://www.brickfanatics.com/lego-star-wars-at-at-bigger-models-filming/ (Brick Fanatics, November 21, 2021) Frozen Ice Castle (43197, 2021): Simplified village, cut light-up bridge. https://rebrickable.com/blog/416/review-43197-1-the-ice-castle/ (Rebrickable, September 29, 2021) Marvel Sanctum Sanctorum (76218, 2022): Cut zombie Strange for Wong. https://brickarchitect.com/reviews/review-lego-marvel-76218-sanctum-sanctorum/ (Brick Architect, 2023) Star Wars Millennium Falcon (75192, 2017): Balanced sequel/original trilogy figures. https://www.brickfanatics.com/lego-star-wars-ucs-75192-millennium-falcon-review/ (Brick Fanatics, May 22, 2025) Star Wars R2-D2 (75308, 2021): Simplified gadgets for UCS aesthetic. https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-75308-ucs-r2-d2-2021/ (Jay's Brick Blog, April 26, 2021) Disney Celebration Train (43212, 2023): Swapped early characters for Moana, Woody. https://www.brickfanatics.com/lego-43212-disney-celebration-train-minifigs/ (Brick Fanatics, March 13, 2023) Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer (75252, 2019): Limited to generic officers. https://www.brickfanatics.com/every-lego-star-wars-ultimate-collector-series-set/ (Brick Fanatics, September 18, 2019) Universal (Jurassic World) – T. rex Rampage (75936, 2019): Cut Visitor Center for T. rex/Jeep. https://www.thebrickfan.com/lego-jurassic-world-jurassic-park-t-rex-rampage-75936-review/ (The Brick Fan, November 25, 2020) Lucasfilm (pre-Disney) – Death Star (10188, 2008): Mixed A New Hope/Jedi scenes, vetoed figures. https://starwars.fandom.com/wiki/LEGO_10188_Death_Star (Lego Star Wars Wiki, October 29, 2024) Warner Bros. (DC) – Wonder Woman vs. Cheetah (76157, 2020): Scaled down to Wonder Woman 1984 focus. https://www.brickfanatics.com/es/lego-dc-super-heroes-76157-mujer-maravilla-vs-guepardo-disponible-ahora/amp/ (Brick Fanatics, April 6, 2020) Nintendo (Super Mario) – Adventures with Mario (71360, 2020): Scrapped brick-built Mario for app-driven design. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lego_Super_Mario (Wikipedia, June 20, 2020)

I'm not a huge collector of LEGO (space, money & kids!) but I closely follow new releases and news. One thing that I see continually crop up is the sometimes excessive influence that Disney exerts over LEGO in the design process. I've done my best to cobble together a list of examples and why they happened: Nightmare Before Christmas (21351, 2024) What Happened: Fan-designed Jack Skellington’s house was made less angular and gothic, resulting in a “tamer” look compared to the 1993 film. In my opinion, the most egregious example that sacrificed the entire look of the set to appease.. who knows!? Why: Disney pushed for a more playable, kid-friendly design to align with brand standards. Star Wars UCS Death Star (75419, 2025) What Happened: LEGO had to persuade Disney/Lucasfilm to include two Rogue One minifigures (Galen Erso, Krennic), placed “off-build” on the display stand. Why: Disney was hesitant since these characters aren’t in the original trilogy’s Death Star scenes, prioritizing canon consistency. Magic of Disney (21352, 2024) What Happened: Fan design for Disney’s 100th anniversary focused on Mickey Sorcerer and Pinocchio but was changed to include modern characters (Bruno from Encanto, Lilo) and cut anniversary motifs. Why: Released post-anniversary, Disney wanted broader, contemporary character representation for market appeal. Star Wars Boba Fett’s Starship (75312, 2021) What Happened: Renamed from “Slave I” to “Boba Fett’s Starship” across multiple sets. Why: Disney avoided “slave” due to cultural sensitivity concerns... (eye-roll) Captain Jack Sparrow’s Pirate Ship (10365, 2025) What Happened: Renamed from “Black Pearl” to emphasize the character. Why: Disney preferred character-driven branding for better marketability. Disney Princess to LEGO Disney (2017) What Happened: Shifted from Duplo to System-scale minidolls and rebranded as “LEGO Disney” with more diverse characters. Why: Disney targeted girls 5–12, focusing on "empowerment" and modern designs. Star Wars Mos Eisley Cantina (75290, 2020) What Happened: LEGO proposed obscure aliens (e.g., Tonnika Sisters) but Disney swapped them for recognizable ones like Greedo. Why: Disney prioritized iconic characters for broader fan appeal. Disney Castle (43222, 2023) What Happened: Updated Cinderella Castle avoided a specific Cinderella minifigure, focusing on multi-film “Disney magic” nods. Why: Disney wanted a universal park landmark, not a single-princess focus. Star Wars AT-AT (75313, 2021) What Happened: LEGO’s playable interior was reduced for a film-accurate exterior. Why: Disney/Lucasfilm demanded fidelity to The Empire Strikes Back. Frozen Ice Castle (43197, 2021) What Happened: LEGO’s larger village design was simplified, cutting features like a light-up ice bridge. Why: Disney requested a smaller, budget-friendly set for younger Frozen fans. Marvel Sanctum Sanctorum (76218, 2022) What Happened: Darker Multiverse of Madness elements (e.g., zombie Strange) were removed for family-friendly figures like Wong. Why: Disney/Marvel enforced a PG tone for younger audiences. Star Wars Millennium Falcon (75192, 2017) What Happened: LEGO proposed more sequel trilogy figures (Rey, Finn), but Disney mandated a balance with original trilogy ones (Han, Leia). Why: Disney emphasized the ship’s cross-era legacy for wider appeal. Star Wars R2-D2 (75308, 2021) What Happened: Complex internal gadgets were simplified for a display-focused model. Why: Disney/Lucasfilm wanted a sleek, collectible UCS aesthetic. Disney Celebration Train (43212, 2023) What Happened: Early Disney characters were swapped for modern ones (Moana, Woody). Why: Disney pushed for recognizable, current IPs for marketing. Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer (75252, 2019) What Happened: LEGO proposed named characters (e.g., Admiral Piett), but Disney limited it to generic officers. Why: Disney kept the focus on the ship to avoid canon debates. This obviously isn't a definitive list, just the main ones I could think of and research. Disney are obviously not the only licensors to execute creative control, but they certainly seem to be the most involved and influential. (Wouldn't be surprised if the sets cost so much because of 'consulting fees' with the Disney IP team!) Other Licensors’ Influence: Universal (Jurassic World) – T. rex Rampage (75936, 2019) What Happened: Detailed Visitor Centre and extra staff figures were cut for a T. rex and Jeep focus. Why: Universal emphasized iconic movie moments for blockbuster appeal. Lucasfilm (pre-Disney) – Death Star (10188, 2008) What Happened: Lucasfilm vetoed minor Imperial figures, mandating a mix of A New Hope and Return of the Jedi scenes. Why: Created a “greatest hits” set for nostalgia. Warner Bros. (DC) – Wonder Woman vs. Cheetah (76157, 2020) What Happened: LEGO’s larger Themyscira set was scaled down to focus on Wonder Woman 1984’s Cheetah and Maxwell Lord. Why: Tied to movie promotion, avoiding spoilers. Nintendo (Super Mario) – Adventures with Mario (71360, 2020) What Happened: LEGO’s brick-built Mario was scrapped for an app-driven, blocky design. Why: Nintendo demanded digital gameplay and specific aesthetics. Of all of them, Harry Potter seems to get off the lightest and have the most flexibility as long as it appeared in a film, they can make it within reason for both characters and locations. They even let them slip in Easter Eggs from the books or extended lore. Given the size of that IP, it must have its own independent team that deals with licensees, and it would appear they're very enthusiastic!

I always wanted an Emperor with a skirt piece because I think the legs look weird. Well wouldn't you know that the D&D Mind Flayer Skirt lines up exactly with the 2020-22 Palpatine! (I'd love it to be on purpose because the graphic designer is a fan, but the new Palpatine was already released by then, so it's just coincidence) I now have my perfect Emperor that I can use for his Death Star visit scene! (Also I'm team 'pupils', I hate the dead orange eyes)

The yellow eye they chose for the Dianoga in the Compactor is really jarring, really missed a trick not using this existing print....

Yes, because to them, the item literally has no worth. They won't savour every brick placement and building step, it's a job to them. Don't forget that they have to appease both LEGO and their audience. Jumping on the bandwagon and pooping on the biggest ever LEGO set is going to generate more traffic and clicks than going against the grain and being positive. (the old 'if it bleeds, it leads' adage springs to mind)