Lordhelmet

After reading all this I had to look up the backstory. R2-KT is a great choice (as much as I wanted Mara I do think this is better). It would be really cool for the 501st tie in (with a donation from lego to a cancer charity). Would be cool for a bunch of "villains" which represent the 501st divisions with a stormtrooper, a sandtooper, an officer, a clone trooper (501st), and then one or two others from the different divisions. Would be an incredible decision by Lego, I would probably need to buy a handful of those.

This is why I lean toward Lego likely being able to make sets based on the upcoming movie later this year (since it is WB/New Line). We know they have the merchandising rights for the LOTR films, so while we won't know for certain until sets come out, it is likely that they would have the rights for the Hobbit and the upcoming movie as well. I guess we will find out. I wouldn't be disappointed to get a Rohirim battle pack based on the upcoming movie. I am hopeful we will get something LOTR later this year or early next year (beyond Barad Dur and some brickheadz).

I had to look this one up, but agreed. Hopefully the set is good otherwise. I am not buying these sets for the anniversary figs so I probably won't have many of them (2 maybe 3).

It’s true we don’t know for certain if they have the rights to the new movie (or the hobbit for the same reason). I think it is more likely they would have the rights to the new movie because the new movie is part of the same rights package as the original movies (vs ROP which is separate). So it is possible they only have the original trilogy rights because we only have sets from those movies, but it is a likely scenario that they would have all of the movie rights based on how the studio has those rights (LOTR, Hobbit, and the new one). Unless someone gets ahold of their licensing agreement or they start producing sets we won’t know for sure but it would definitely handicap their ability to produce sets for one of their themes with a current movie out if they separated the movies in their agreement.

I saw those videos too, I have not seen any confirmation of anything said in them (I think there are two YouTube videos, but one references the other as the source). I think Barad Dur is June not October (seems to discredit the videos from the start since it has been confirmed for June by reliable sources prior to the videos creation). The videos seem mostly like good guesses (although I would love if they were true). It could very well be likely there are sets on the way for the movie release (or slightly after), or the original trilogy particularly around Rohan. Lego has the rights to make sets and already has the theme, not a stretch that they come out with a handful of sets along side the movie. Hoping that is true but until we see real confirmation I look at those as a wishlist.

Are we expecting more than one minifigure for the UCS tie? Like a pilot plus, or is this just saying some alternate options could be these?

I think both builds look good ( I will only get the diorama on sale like I have for all of them so far). the gwp won’t get me to buy anything this may the 4th. I did buy the tantive boarding last week because I decided not to wait. the tantive boarding set is cool. I had some damaged pieces though but thankfully Lego is sending replacements.

Is there real confirmation to these rumors about a delayed set? Seems to be a trend of people talking about it being delayed but I haven’t seen anything with good sources.

Wow that will be much bigger than orthanc ( I might need to rethink my shelf space). Isn’t that about 5 inches taller and ten inches wider? I thought it would be bigger but only by an inch or so. Also excited for the “and more” category. Should be a good set.

This is a cool MOC, I also like the fell beasts flying around outside. Really hoping we get something like this on the official. (Would be cool to have one of the rooms be a fell beast stable) That way we could get a mini fig scale one with some micro scale ones on the outside. maybe the stable could include another black horse with the red eyes too. That could give us the armory, a stable, a throne room, some sorcery room, and a dungeon. We could get Sauron, 7 orcs, sam and Frodo, maybe a troll, fell beast, 2 wraiths and horse. (12 minifigs, two big figs, one animal). New moulds would have to be Suaron's helmet, troll/fell beast, and maybe one for orc armor.

I think the original info was that Luke was not the pilot, but there were unknown mini figs and no info on the who the pilot was. Seems like it is still wide open so maybe we do get another pilot luke. Hopefully we see some updates soon. I am hoping for a new pilot (from the movies) or a wes janson remake just as an x wing pilot.

Great idea using the Luke hair. I just picked one up off of Pick a Brick and was going to use it on a Luke but now I will have a tough decision (or just buy another one). On a related note, does anyone have any suggestions for updating Mon Mothma from this set? (also lego needs to release the characters from this set to get some updated face prints).

That is pretty awesome. My radagast is missing the brown feather (I have a white one instead). Too bad they stopped making that part in that color.

Can't this one just be ordered from Lego Pick A Brick online? Element ID: 6022359 Design ID: 10509, I always thought this was the same one from the set? I bought a bunch of these a few years ago, but also some of the other horses to mix up my Rohirim Army (wanted the horses to have variation). I also keep debating on getting the Avengers Horse from there but the eyelashes keep throwing me off so I haven't ordered one for Gandalf the White yet.

Not losing hope (I have more now after the DnD release than before) in a CMF line (although that just moves the needle from like 10% to 15% likelihood to me). I will buy at least three full sets of CMF figures if they do it plus some for kids, and more if there are army builders (although I’d prefer they do battle packs vs. cmf for army builders) I also love the idea of doing something like the prancing pony or green dragon. Or other peaceful areas from LOTR (grey havens etc.)

I am excited for DnD fans to get a CMF series (I personally am unlikely to buy them but happy for the theme and its fans). I am just saying typically CMF have been their big themes - Marvel, Harry Potter, Disney (muppets also Disney) Lego Movies. so seeing it for a theme that doesn't exist minus one ideas set is pretty incredible and just drives home that they should do it for LOTR (and Star Wars but that is for another thread). That is awesome, all the more reason they should have done one. Plus would we have DnD without LOTR but that is a question for a thread in some reddit forum. Would be cool to have something for LOTR 75th anniversary.

If we get a bunch of the heroes in a base that is meant to counter Yavin I will pass and bricklink the minifigures. I am still holding out hope that it is closer to the original leaks where a few officers, troopers and Vader were mentioned (and the conference room) than something where we see mostly the heroes. Although Han and Luke stormtroopers could be easily converted to actual stormtroopers so that is not a total loss. This set really needs to provide at least one named officer although two is preferred. OT imperial officers are very underrepresented in Lego (three are over $50 Yularen, Tarkin, Piett), and veers is the only other one produced, that is roughly 40% of named characters from the movies that have speaking parts. That is why I am hoping for two named officers in the set to either provide a new option for Tarkin and Yularen, or fill in some gaps in missing characters.

wait, so D&D gets a CMF line and LOTR can't? I am going to start daily requests through Lego's feedback online for a LOTR CMF line. Any other suggestions to get Lego to listen to the idea of LOTR CMF?

Can't wait for this set. Probably will be the only set I buy on launch day. just want to know more about it. Is it (likely is) $140, is it more detailed than Yavin (I bought some parts and mini figs from the set on brick link but not the full set). Does it have Tarkin and another named officer or two (ideally three officers total including tarkin). I also feel like we know the least about this one of the summer play sets (this and the buildable creature. Very excited to hear more leaks about it and eventually get some pictures.

Me too, a Darth Maul duel diorama was a miss this year. (I am good with its a trap too :) would happily sub that for the force awakens one), but I would love for the theme to continue on for some time.

I think Lego should have the last diorama set (hopefully many years away since the line is awesome) of the end scene of the Empire Strikes Back. It would be a large wall with the window looking at a giant print (or sticker) of the galaxy and maybe a transport and y wing or the falcon flying off. Mini figs would be R2, 3PO, Luke, Leia, and 21B. There would be a small medical area and the quote on the front would be "May the Force Be With You.. (roar)". Would be a cool way to end the theme, plus there would be a killer print (or sticker) with the same style window from the meditation chamber just bigger. Neither of those Luke or Leia figures has been made either so they would be new versions. This would be my ideal diorama theme line up with a six year total run (hoping for seven or more years, and more than one per year) 2022- (3) Death Star Trench, Jedi Training, Trash Compactor 2023- (2) Throne Room, Endor 2024- (1) Podrace (wish we had a second) 2025 - (3) Mustafar Duel (20th), Jabbas Palace, and Kylo Rey forest duel (10 year) - I would be good losing the force awakens set but wanted something to round it out 2026 - (2) Darth Maul Duel, and Executor command bridge 2027 - (3) Obi duel with Vader on Death Star (50th), Either lars homestead or falcon cockpit going to light speed (50th), closing scene from Empire on nebulon B (August/September release)

First Point: I don't disagree on the character being unique or not. I thought Gringots was a good example with the extra goblin and bank that attaches. I would be good with an extra orc or my preferred choice is Nazgûl with fell beast (like the one from the link above). Not unique characters to the theme but something extra that fits the build, plus they wouldn't need any new parts for those. Second Point. Just general google searches (hard to find media franchises by the numbers that don't just focus on movies). I found an article with the top 25 listed including each type of media (books, movies, tv, merchandise, video games). Pokemon was the top, Disney had like six entries (princesses, Winnie the Pooh, Toy Story, cars, etc.) in the top 20. Marvel and Spiderman were listed separately from each other but both in the top 20. Not concrete evidence but compared to some other lists I found through google that mostly focused on movies the numbers looked accurate enough to view LOTR as a top 20 media franchise, mostly driven by decades of book sales. True, we do have the three sets, but other themes (geared at adults - Avatar, Indiana Jones, Wicked - none of which are kid themes) all have play sets. It would be cool to know what their data shows which drives these decisions. The movie argument can't really be used anymore, we get War of the Rohirim later this year, plus the amazon series (while not great, this hasn't stopped other themes having a bad movie see Dial of Destiny, or Eternals). But most importantly we do have a movie from the theme coming out this year. Third Point. I agree and this is a good point, that I would rather see the theme successful, the Indiana Jones theme (while great sets) feels like it may have failed. And they are a close comparison as referenced int he last point. Maybe we keep this current trajectory until the 25th anniversary (in two years), or the rumored new trilogy comes out. I would be good with this approach if it meant we saw a successful theme that got us some of the missing pieces like Gondor from Lego. It would also be nice for a cheaper set once in a while vs. all $400 plus sets, like a $250 Edoras, or $300 Lothlorien. Ultimately having the missing pieces of the theme added is the goal, whether that is 9 or 7 waves of big sets, or one (giant) wave to produce them all.

I would say similar in fashion to the one from the mines of Moria set, but one from the Black Gate (in the movies). A shame.

I am getting more excited for Barad Dur the closer we get, hoping we get the Fell Beast but really just want another really good LOTR set with a good Sauron. Although if we do get a molded/big figure it would be nice to get another Troll (like the ones from the black gate). Really want a better GWP this time around (I might hold off till double points if it is the brickheadz again), something like Harry Potter, Eiffel Tower, or a modular would get. with a mini fig and small build that relates to the set. My top picks would be Tolkien at his desk (I think Balrogofmorgoth had that idea last year), a fell beast with rider, Cirith Ungul room with an ORC, Last Alliance Isildur with a rocky display, etc. If there is one of these I will be lined up outside the store early. Plus Orthanc needs another tower next to it on my shelf to be less lonely. I know there is a movie coming out, but how does Wicked get four sets and LOTR can't get a few small play sets? Four sets for Wicked? Not saying that it is a bad property, my wife likes it (she also won't buy the sets ever), but LOTR is a much bigger (top 20 media franchise?). Lego has the rights to quite a few from the top 20, Disney/Pixar, Star Wars, Marvel, Batman, Harry Potter, and LOTR. I still don't get why they can't do a small wave of play sets each year for a franchise this big. I love Rivendell, and am very happy about Barad Dur, but seeing these other IPs get small waves of sets and Lego does not give their 6th best selling franchise three to four sets seems like a misuse of the license. Crazy to me that they would have the rights but not utilize it to its potential even if it is just a small handful of sets each year (with mini figures, not brickheadz).

Ah I misread that, thought he said minifig but you are right just mini fig scale, disregard then, hopefully they have a better design.