Lord of the Rings + LEGO!!!!

[Brian]

First of all, news of a lego store in Vancouver, and now this announcement, I am looking for that second job with shane!

Lego has found its next precious

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has awarded the toymaker the rights to create action figures and playsets based on "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy and the two upcoming films based on "The Hobbit," the first of which bows at the end of 2012.

The multiyear deal grants Lego access to the library of characters, settings and stories of "The Lord of the Rings," "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" and "The Hobbit: There and Back Again," all helmed by Peter Jackson.

The first toys Lego plans to produce will hit store shelves in June, tied to "Lord of the Rings," with new construction sets planned for the weeks leading up to the Dec. 14 bow of "An Unexpected Journey."

"Only Lego, with their expertise in the construction category, is capable of doing justice to the incredibly imaginative environments depicted in the world of 'The Lord of the Rings' and the two films based on 'The Hobbit,'" said Karen McTier, executive VP, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products. "These films give life to amazing worlds and characters and we are thrilled to bring fans these products that deliver an imaginative play experience befitting of these beloved properties."

Warner Bros. has a long history with Lego.

Lego has produced toys around the studio's "Harry Potter" franchise, the Batman and "Speed Racer" pics and now the entire DC Comics library. Lego also has tied toys to Disney's "Pirates of the Caribbean," "Toy Story," "Cars" and "Prince of Persia" pics, and has long had the "Star Wars" and "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" license.

Warner Bros.' Lego-made DC toys are also expected to hit store shelves next year, the same time Lego will also release its Marvel line, tied to Sony's "The Amazing Spider-Man" and Disney's "The Avengers."

"Our collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products has delivered numerous worldwide successes in the construction toy aisle, introducing us to loyal audiences who love great stories, strong characters and the toys that they inspire," said Jill Wilfert, VP, licensing and entertainment for the Lego Group. "It's particularly exciting to now be able to create sets based on the fantasy worlds and characters from 'The Lord of the Rings' trilogy and 'The Hobbit,' not only because we know they will foster collectability and creative play, but also because these are two properties that our fans have been asking us to create for years."

Going after film franchises has paid off for Lego, with "Harry Potter" and "Star Wars" helping the toymaker top $1 billion in sales in the U.S. for the first time in 2010, a figure it's confident to repeat again this year. Altogether, sales are up 106% for the fourth-largest toymaker since 2006, the company has said.

This year, shipments of LEGO® to stores between August and October are up more than 65%, according to Panjiva, a New York-based data firm.

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Has there ever been a better time to be a LEGO fan? There's so much cool stuff coming our way that I really think we are in a new 'golden age' of LEGO, one that surpasses that which many of us remember from our childhood.

Update: LEGO has already published a teaser page for the theme (thanks to everyone that emailed about this)

Update: Here's LEGO's press release:

Warner Bros. Consumer Products and The LEGO Group build on Partnership to Produce Construction Toys for THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ Trilogy and the Two Films Based on THE HOBBIT

Building Sets Based on Epic Film Trilogy and Forthcoming Theatrical Release Slated for 2012

BILLUND, Denmark and Burbank, CA – December 16, 2011 – Warner Bros. Consumer Products and The LEGO Group announced today a partnership that awards the world’s leading construction toy brand exclusive rights to develop build-and-play construction sets based on THE LORD OF THE RINGS™ trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT™. The multi-year licensing agreement grants access to the library of characters, settings, and stories for THE LORD OF THE RINGS property, as well as films The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and The Hobbit: There and Back Again.

LEGO® THE LORD OF THE RINGS construction sets are slated for a rolling global launch beginning in June 2012 in the United States, with LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY scheduled for later in the year.

“Only LEGO, with their expertise in the construction category, is capable of doing justice to the incredibly imaginative environments depicted in the world of THE LORD OF THE RINGS and the two films based on THE HOBBIT,” said Karen McTier, executive vice president, domestic licensing and worldwide marketing, Warner Bros. Consumer Products.

"These films give life to amazing worlds and characters and we are thrilled to bring fans these products that deliver an imaginative play experience befitting of these beloved properties.”

The LEGO THE LORD OF THE RINGS collection will translate into LEGO form the epic locations, scenes and characters of Middle-earth as depicted in all three films, including The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.

In late 2012, LEGO THE HOBBIT: AN UNEXPECTED JOURNEY will give fans of all ages a chance to build and play out the fantastical story and new characters of the legendary Middle-earth adventures depicted in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson, slated to premiere December 14, 2012.

“Our collaboration with Warner Bros. Consumer Products has delivered numerous worldwide successes in the construction toy aisle with lines like LEGO HARRY POTTER and LEGO BATMAN, introducing us to loyal audiences who love great stories, strong characters and the toys that they inspire,” said Jill Wilfert, vice president, licensing and entertainment for The LEGO Group. “It’s particularly exciting to now be able to create sets based on the fantasy worlds and characters from THE LORD OF THE RINGS trilogy and the two films based on THE HOBBIT, not only because we know they will foster collectability and creative play, but also because these are two properties that our fans have been asking us to create for years.”

Information about the sets and collectible minifigures from both collections will be unveiled at a later date at http://TheLordoftheRings.LEGO.com

[timtosino]

Forget minecraft.. This is it!

[RadStar]

Yessssssss!!!! More fantasy sets!!!

edit: although the downside will be having to swap out fleshies.. but still exciting nonetheless!!

AND this is fitting news for my 500th post!!!

[soundwave]

When the pupil is ready, the Master Poster will appear.

There should be some neat sets and pieces with this series. It might even force me to finally watch the movie.
This will probably mean no Lego Castle line just like Pirates of the Caribbean ended the Lego brand Pirates line.

[RadStar]

This will probably mean no Lego Castle line just like Pirates of the Caribbean ended the Lego brand Pirates line.

I hadnt thought of that... would Lego really abandon their factions: crusaders, black falcons, etccc I dont think so really...
The Castle brand seems more established than the Pirates, but I dunno

I dont think they'll build an massive helm's deep or kings castle for LOTR set, but rather focus more on Hobbit stuff? Sauron's Tower perhaps? Samug will be an cool dragon I bet

[soundwave]

i don't think they will abandon it all together. Castle has been around for 30 years and the black falcons for 25 years.
maybe they will use LOTR to take over the Harry Potter segment. Do we know if there is a lot of new Harry Ptter sets yet to come?

[chump]

I've merged the topics and brought it into the General Discussions.

[RadStar]

i don't think they will abandon it all together. Castle has been around for 30 years and the black falcons for 25 years.
maybe they will use LOTR to take over the Harry Potter segment. Do we know if there is a lot of new Harry Ptter sets yet to come?

Oh that would make more sense

However I do think they'd hold off on the Castle/Kingdoms line while they're doing the new Tolkein sets. The upcoming Joust and a couple smaller sets would wrap up Kingdom's 3 year run.

[Brian]

There are some images of some of these sets,

9464 Gandalf arrives
9476 Shelob attacks
9471 Uruk-hai Army
9472 Attack on Weather top
9473 Mines of Moria
9474 Battle of Helms Deep

There are at least two sets with 9 minifigures and lots of minifigs in the other sets, pretty easy to build up armies... and it looks like it will blend nicely with the Castle line.

Brian

[RadStar]

I found a youtube video..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkeZHJIg ... m4JX-DcnEs

Is that a new Tan Horse in Urkhai Army set?? And is it a new pose? I like...

I also like the hobbits' torsos.. but not so much anything else?

[chump]

Links from FBTB:

[RadStar]

Looks incredible I'll be getting all the sets in order to get all of the fellowship. love the hobbits' clothings and such this theme is too perfect for me lol

And the orcs heads are incredible. their hair so slick!

[Platypus]

, so much for me having a savings account. That looks amazing! I love it.

[RadStar]

I really like that the hobbits faces are so simple & lego face- like.. I can swap in the basic yellow lego face for them

[Bricklee]

I agree Roger, these sets are what I have been waiting for ever since I read the LOTR books 33 years ago...yes I was age 11 and yes I'm really old.

The Urk-hai and orcs look awesome - I see some multiple set purchases in my future. Great figs, great theme!

[RadStar]

Heh no kidding.. I wont be getting Joust set after all, I will bricklink order the princess with dark green dress.. LOTR has way more new & exciting stuff!!

[chump]

If you find a good price on the princess with the green dress and the BL store has more than one, please let me know and I'll go in on that one with you.

As for these figs, I might be hitting a wall. I'll have to check out the sets first but so far not feeling it for these or the Superhero lines.

[Captain Pike]

OMG that Gollum face is creepy....

[AC]

From one of the pictures I have seen on Eurobricks it appears we are in for a (some) new molds for the horses.

[chump]

From one of the pictures I have seen on Eurobricks it appears we are in for a (some) new molds for the horses.

I've read about the new horses but haven't actually seen pictures yet. Maybe that's why the white horses are on the PaB wall.

[Platypus]

Ya, I have been thinking that since I saw them there. The horse is a pretty old hold and until the Mill village set with the nice grey one, even the colour and paint job had barely changed in over 20 years.

[AC]

If there was any doubt her are the pictures. Well a link to the pictures.
http://www.comicbookmovie.com/fansites/ ... s/?a=54572

[RadStar]

Awesome Gandalf' Arrival set has the new brown horse, that'd be the cheapest option to get that
Next is the Urkhai army with nice castle section & a rohan rider on new brown horse..
Attack at Weathertop has 2 new black horses but red eyes heh
Lastly- Battle for Helms Deep has 1 more new brown horse..

[Andrew]

Radstar,sounds like you "horse" around alot in your castle building.

[mattybrick]

I think these sets look amazing! I myself am pretty hyped about them. Of course later in the year we will be treated to the Hobbit sets.. which I can guess will have more Orcs, Trolls and maybe some Wargs in it. Wargs would be awesome to bring out this year as they also tie in with the Helms Deep stuff. I could also see us getting some Trolls as well.

If I am not mistaken.. and I am sure you guys already know.. that the horses in the LotR line are now able to rear up! You can see Theodens Horse and one of the Dark Riders horse doing this. I like the glowy eyes on Gollum and the Orcs!

I have a strange feeling.. and I hope I am wrong.. but I dont think we will see Smaug this year in the Hobbit Movie. Rumour has it that he will appear in the next movie .. in 2013. I would love to see him though this year in the movie and in Lego.

I think that this line will do really well.. hoping to see some key villians appear.. like Sauron, Saruman, Witch King.. Balrog!!!.
Hahaha and you never know with everything getting the 3D treatment.. they could release the LotR in 3D like the Star Wars movies and the Lego sets would really take off! I am counting down for these sets! Hurry be June!