Virginia_Bricks

Cut backs in quality would not impact revenues, but costs. And Lego's profit margins actually went down last year, so even if they are cutting back on quality they are spending more per dollar to produce the sets in revenue than they have before. Paying designers and producing the bricks is a lot more expensive than some like to admit here. And Lego also has plenty of affordable licensed and unlicensed themes. And new themes to for younger audiences (Bluey, Animal Crossing, etc..). It is just that Star Wars is moving away from that because the average consumer there is different than it was 10 years ago.

That would make sense, if not a tad early to cause overlap with May the 4th promotions. I am still hoping for a leak or 2 before then. Even just the simple set description leaks like last year.

Hogwarts Express Book Nook is set #76450

In this vein, the last Chamber of Secrets playset retired last year. It might have come out in 2021, but it had a long shelf life and might be why they decided to stay away from that movie this year.

Nick could be in the Tower even if the trio are not. Not counting on it but possible. Either way, I’d bet good money when the set interiors leak a lot of people will be complaining here the interiors are lacking. Similar to the Great Hall and Flying Lesson. So in a $70 standalone they might actually please more people.

Hogwarts Legacy is the most recent version, but the only major difference between that and what you linked is the greenhouses.

The Great Hall doesn't have the external PS design. And the Owlery being detached is also from the later movies. It seems Lego designers believe the later movies castle silhouette is more iconic, but the interiors are better from the earlier movies (and I agree with them).

The more I think about it the biggest disappointment of it being PS themed is the likely another Quirrell minifigure. It is not like they are making it easier to get him in a $250 set versus a $200 set for kids. I now find it hard we get Mad-Eye, Lupin, and Umbridge next year. So unless the wave goes 4 years, you won’t have the core professors but you will have plenty of side professors.

For those wondering about space, I feel like this confirms the Main Tower set will include both the Graind Staircasw Tower and the tower next to it. Should work with the price range and then it gives you enough space for: Staircase, Gryffindor Common Room, Headmasters Office, Fluffy Encounter and then 3 trials in the dungeon (keys, chess, and mirror). It just doesn’t seem likely now the set will only be the staircase tower

Reddit has them. I think this confirms the Main Tower set is PS based.

Do we think the exclusive GWP with Hogsmeade will be actual Lego? I’m happy they have a Lego based, non-polybag GWP for all HP sets during Back to Hogwarts, but liked the extra vault type GWP. Something that isn’t necessary for the main set, but adds on to it.

That is very objective statement and not a fact. For myself, I am happy I just back into Lego last year because the most recent Castle Modular wave, in my opinion, is by far the best one we have had. The exteriors blow every other one away and the interiors while lacking at times are not worse than any modular wave before. And prices have sure gone up, but there were only 2 sets at $7 and one at $8 which reflect to $13 and $15 in 2025 dollars. A $10 set in the original wave is what a $20 set is now. I have one of those $10 sets (4751) from my childhood and it stands out like a sore thumb compared to today's $20 sets. Also look at the price per piece ratio on the original sets. All well above the golden $0.10 a piece. IP branded castle sets (ie have large pieces) always skew more expensive and Harry Potter hasn't changed in that regard.

Anyone find a video review yet that compares the last Bag End to this one?

This year’s first wave came on 1/1 versus 3/1 most other years. Which means all the leaks and speculation happened in last years thread and not this years. I think the explains the majority of the change in when the 16th page was hit. I mean we have 16 pages of conversation about a themed toy line.

The worries were that with such a low piece count it wouldn't be an enclosed model, but thanks to 2 8x16 plates the roof took a whole lot less pieces. And I think that is a great tradeoff, so much so I might considering either selling my 2020 version or piecing it out for castle MOCs since the main brick color is the same.

It seems unlikely to be a nano-set given Harry Potter already got one this year and historically has only done 1 maximum a year. That being said, nothing rules it out yet either. But I don't think Hogsmeade as a D2C nano set makes sense like Hogwarts did. The scale isn't the same.

This is what I wanted out of a D2C this year (and might put off Bag End to buy Hogsmeade this year) and I feel this is the perfect comprise for those wanting a second Diagon Alley D2C. I expect a similar style, but unique buildings and doesn't require one to own the Diagon Alley D2C. Also summer Ninjago and Fortnite set images leaked this morning, so I'm hopeful we will get something for the summer wave in April.

Minifigure trainers and brick built pokemon would be the perfect compromise.

Are you trying to use Star Wars to say that sequels are better? Pretty sure the sequels are universally hated and while the prequels weren't loved, the Clone Wars helped rectify them. And speaking of Lego sets, Clone Wars has been a boom for Lego. To the point there is a lot of commentators complaining over on that thread about how there is aren't enough OT sets this year. The issue with Harry Potter is JK has held such strong control over the world, that fan fiction hasn't been able to be properly developed which has given Star Wars and Disney plenty of proven content to modify and turn into canon.

How can Snape be African American??? Its Hogwarts not Ilvermorny. But I don't want a new Snape regardless of his race (which to my understanding was never defined in the books as with most characters) and the same for every other actor. Harry Potter will always be the movies to me.

Its being built and said to be opening in 2027.

I'm hoping so, but $75-90 is the same price range as Flying Lesson which means I don't know what part of the castle they could do with that budget. But maybe, a Chamber of Secrets set of modules? One can dream, right?

4 lines up with the Arc-170 which was the same price

Any wishlist that includes empty spaces for the extra interior sets is just dreaming. Lego won't do empty interiors as every set needs to stand on its own

I'm hoping for Hogsmeade and some boring exclusive GWP (like last year's clock). The D2C is not in this year's budget so don't want to feel like the GWP is necessary, but want a Hogsmeade like Diagon Alley longterm. I'd even take just three half baseplates if they don't think $400-500 is going to sell.