mirkwoodspiders

I'd imagine the facade will look somewhat similar to 75980 from 2020, but the small details will be more accurate to the movie, and the interior will be far more fleshed out. It's about 2.5 times the piece count of the previous version. I'm interested to see where the extra 1,500 pieces have gone into the model. I've sort of transitioned to this as well. I'm taking apart sets and storing them, making room for some new ones. It preserves the LEGO a little better, but also makes me forget how I have too much LEGO lol.

If there's another big set coming out, when do you estimate we'd hear about it?

If even a blurry photo of the Burrow looks marvelous, I have high hopes for the official reveal. This was already a definite purchase; it looks good enough that I may bother going day one to get the GWP too.

Yes, this is precisely why I got out of collecting system scale sets for HP. For awhile I was a completionist, then it got out of hand with the "soft reboot" paired with some interesting builds and I started getting more selective. It's since turned into a massive re-reboot with lots of neat but expensive sets that requires around $1000/year to keep pace. I decided to sell all my system scale sets and focus on either D2C's or random sets I think are interesting/fun like the Sorting Hat. Part of me misses the excitement of seeing the next wave and getting excited to add a lot of new sets, but a bigger part is relieved to save money and enjoy a leaner collection.

Lowest U.S. price on Bricklink right now is $140. If I knew other sets were coming, and ones with the minifig from the GWP, I might sell it, but I think I'd kick myself if future sets didn't come and I sold the thing.

Yeah, he doesn't name sources, just that people he trusts tell him it's legitimate. It's pretty early, so we'll just wait and see I guess. It'd be really exciting if it's true

thebrickreporter says we're getting a new Ewok Village in 2025. As I remember, he's pretty reliable, no?

C-3P0 looks great. I can see what they're trying to do with C-3P0 and Chewie introducing this line of large buildable figures. It's just not really appealling with the entry-pirce point. $200 and $150 is a lot to start a new collection. The helmets and dioramas are a little easier to stomach. I like these big figures but don't think I'll collect them with the cost.

Yep. I just took apart my Ewok Village, which I've had unpacked and built since 2016, and I must have tossed around a dozen brittle brown pieces. It shouldn't be hard to bricklink replacement parts, but I'd be all for just keeping the minifigs from the old version and getting a new one if they release it. I agree with some others who think a bunker and village would work well. I really hope they do that someday.

Thanks! I love the Black Falcon. It was honestly not really on my radar before today, even with all the rumors. It's become a must-buy now, especially with the figs now and what is sure to be an interesting interior. Heck, even the cockpit looks like a completely new colored print.

Nice! Which leaker has the pic?

Me too. As great as Rivendell and Barad-Dur are, I'd be supremely disappointed if they were the only two builds (Brickheadz aside) we end up getting. I don't think they're done, at least with large builds, but at this point it's anyone's guess if small models are on the way.

Nice! This is honestly what I've been seeing with a lot of people - actually building the thing and seeing it in person and being wowed by it in a way you can't be if you've only seen it in photos.

"Sauron's advocate" - I think the only concerning thing might be licensing for the new shows and movies that are coming out if they wanted to do sets for those, but they'd already have licensing issues worked out for the main LOTR movies, right? And I'd imagine all of the other potential concerns would apply to a large extent to any other theme they decide to roll out in the future. I'd have to think they'd be willing to test the waters with a small, initial wave of playsets, a la Indiana Jones last summer, and see how it does. Hopefully, unlike Indiana Jones, it'd continue past that, unless the sales were poor and the cost/benefit analysis didn't pan out in their favor.

Agree 100%. If they don't, whoever runs their market research department should be canned. You'd have to be blind not to see the level of fervor for LOTR LEGO at the moment.

Nope, just saw the eye, but that would make sense I guess to sell in segments and maybe get a little bit better return. If it were me, I'd want the entire thing or nothing, though.

Someone has a listing on eBay for *just* the top portion of Barad-Dur with Sauron's eye and the light brick. I guess they just got the set for the figs... ? I've never seen a listing like that for a set before and I'm not sure why anyone would want just the eye without the rest of the tower.

I agree, not near as iconic and is not likely to get a large-set treatment. But, I'd say it's decently recognisable, as it does get a decent amount of screen time. It's cool enough as a medeival sort of structure and has enough potential for some great minifigs in Theoden, Eowyn, Eomer, Wormtongue, etc. that it might sell fairly well. If it did get made, large or small scale, I'm almost certain I'd buy it! And yes, I'm with you, Minas Tirith ought to be next and I hope will be. Perhaps just a "fool's hope" as Gandalf says.

I think if LEGO decided to break the glass ceiling and hit $1,000, one of the few I'd be willing to go for on that would be a worthy Minas Tirith set. But even then.... $1,000 for a set, yikes lol. I think they could do it justice in the $600-$700 range, especially since I think the facade would be microscale a la Barad Dur and Orthanc.

Of course, nothing at all concrete. It's just fun to imagine, and there is a history of teases like this.

Jay's Brick Blog has a strong review of Barad-Dur. He shares my sentiments regarding the Palantir and its images of Minas Tirith and the Shire (link to the full review here https://jaysbrickblog.com/reviews/review-lego-icons-10333-barad-dur/): "LEGO likes to hide Easter Eggs and references to potential future sets, so I’m taking this as a solid clue that we’ll get a Bag End AND Minas Tirith set in the future, maybe 2025. Book the prediction because I’m calling it now!"

10333 is on 60-day backorder in the US and is delayed nearly 10 days in the UK as well. Most of the reports at the local level I've read on here indicate long lines for the release at LEGO stores. This is a great sign for demand. Pay attention, LEGO! We would like more, please and thank you.

Sitting outside my local LEGO store here a little more than an hour before opening. I got here about 2.5 hours ahead of time and there was only one other person. The LEGO store employee tipped me off to an open loading dock entrance you can use to access the inside of the mall and wait as early as you want. 2.5 hours early was a little ambitious haha. There are only 8 people here at the moment, but I expect the line to extend the closer we get. The store has 30 GWP and probably something close to that in Barad-Dur models.

Agreed on all of this. I'd forgotten there was a rumor for a large Knight Bus - that would be pretty cool. These would all be cool, I think the only ones I'd buy would be a large Durmstrang Ship and Grimmauld Place. @krimimimi mentioned another Hagrid's Hut at large scale might work, too, and I think I'd buy that as well.

So, my thought after Saturday is... where do we go from here? It's an interesting place to be. 2 huge D2Cs feels like the beginning of something long term for the LOTR theme. But, this could be it. Zilch. Just watch and wait, I suppose.