No folks, it’s not an untimely April’s fools joke. Lego is partnering with Warner Bros. to bring us what so many fans have asked for over the years — LEGO sets based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle Earth, including both The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit.
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 TheLordoftheRings.LEGO.com.
I approve of this.
Me approves, too. :)
Wow… Just… Wow…
That famous Philip J. Fry’s quote applies:
“Shut up and take my money!”
So happy! Thanks for the news about this!
Funny thing is, I had unofficial information about this over a year ago. One of the members of a group on MOCpages, the largest LotR group there (Fellowship of the Brick) has found information about LotR the LEGO video game in the source code of… I think it was LEGO Batman. I’m very glad it’s official now. Definetely something LEGO should have done earlier, when the movies were out. So lucky the books are such a classic, so the theme may go on like Harry Potter does.
Wooooooo!
I’m not that big of a castle theme builder myself, but I’m sure those fans all all clapping unanimously, so I’m happy for them:) Now if Lego would hurry up and announce the inevitable Tron theme. With a successful Movie franchise on the rise, and a Disney original Cartoon series coming out next year, I can’t imagine a better time to do so.
… wow…. *faints
I, for one, am disappointed by this, and by all the licensing in general. I mean, I understand, I really do, but all it does from a standard consumer’s viewpoint is jack prices up more.
This news is the best Christmas gift I could have gotten this year.
FINALLY! This made 2011 worth for me.
My Precioussss……me wants Legoses!
So, this license seems like it would have to be targeted at a more adult audience, right? Because when I think “LOTR fanboys” I tend to think late teen and older. Are there a lot of LOTR fans in the demographic that the SW and PotC licenses are more obviously aimed at? Possibly a new strategy for TLC…
^ It even says in the release that these sets will be coveted by “collectors” which means adults willing to pay through the nose for these sets.
I am not sold on these, nice to get more elves and some new elements, however castle has always been yellow heads. If successful, this could mean no main castle theme (non-licensed) for many years. They will be pricey, so they better be worth it!
I just sat in my chair shaking…
This is epic.
I understand that licensing ups the price for these sets, but in general it makes LEGO a better product. I don’t think LEGO would have pulled itself out of its bad years without the Star Wars franchise. So for those of you who don’t like the idea, just tell yourself that its “subsidizing” your LEGO theme of choice. The risk to a distinct Castle theme is something that concerns me though.
While this may certainly have lots of adult appeal, I think the kids will love it too. Don’t forget that there’s a Hobbit movie on the horizon to introduce these classics to a whole new generation.
Ok cool, im excited, but it would be nice if lego could do us a favor and do what hundreds have been asking for a while and bring back Bionicle.
Yessssssssssssssssssss I love LEGO!!!
My biggest question is how does it work having a franchise based on a ring, for figures that don’t even have fingers? =P
In all seriousness though, I am obviously quite elated.
A round of hallelujah chorus anyone?
the one piece to rule them all
Today is my birthday and what an AMAZING gift!!! Thank you LEGO I will mail you all of my income directly from now on.
Pictures of new SW and Lord of the Rings sets