The LEGO Ideas program lets the community vote on which concepts might become official sets. Adapting fan designs into an official set always involves changes – both compromises and upgrades. The next fan-designed set, LEGO Ideas 21360 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory, announced today, introduced many unique challenges for the design team. We’ll be back with a full hands-on review tomorrow, but keep reading to see more pics of this sweet set and learn some behind-the-scenes stories of how the design team arrived at the finished model.

LEGO Ideas 21360 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | 2025 Pieces | Available September 15 |US $219.99 | CAN $279.99 | UK £199.99

Here is the original fan design from Roberto Ceruti and Jody Padulano as it appeared on the Ideas platform:

The Wonka and Oompa Loompa minifigs are clearly inspired by the classic Gene Wilder-led musical from 1971, while the kids and the peppermint tentacles trees are inspired by the Tim Burton Version from 2005.

During the initial fan design and vote phase, the creators started with a pure tribute to the Burton vision, but the voting audience really wanted to see the earlier musical version represented, leading to the hybrid version. And it’s that fan demand for Wilder’s earlier version that LEGO’s design team knew they had to respect in the final version. So how to preserve the vision while removing the modern references without ending up like a sad day in Glasgow?

It started with extensive research into concept art, movie stills, and costumes.  The designers folded in details like the pipes, edibile teacup flowers, and giant lollypops. In the 1971 version of the scene, there is no bridge, but the LEGO team wanted to preserve the rainbow-stepped feature that was so prominent in the fan design.

Serendipitously, the arch under the bridge brought to mind the tunnel that Wonka and the guests travel down by boat, which led to the idea of adding the Wonkatania boat.

Looking at the lineup of minifigs, a new mold was created to capture Gene Wilder’s distinctive wild hair. The kids are all modeled on the 1971 cast and costumes. It’s fun to see Mike Teavee wearing his hat like Luffy from One Piece. Of course every kid gets a printed golden ticket. (Just don’t expect to find real-life golden tickets in the LEGO boxes). As a nice bonus from the proposed set, the LEGO team have added Grandpa Joe, as he was such an essential companion in Charlie’s journey.

Here is the final model from LEGO, made from 2025 pieces, and going on sale September 15 to LEGO Insiders, and September 18th to all. LEGO’s description follows. What do you think, readers? Is it a sweet success to savor at home? Let us know in the comments if you’ll be picking up Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory when it releases next month.

LEGO Ideas 21360 Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory | 2025 Pieces | Available September 15 |US $219.99 | CAN $279.99 | UK £199.99

Inspire nostalgia for Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory with this LEGO® Ideas classic film set for adults (21360). A wonderful display model celebrating the popular 1971 film, this LEGO brick-built recreation of Wonka’s chocolate factory is packed with authentic details. The set also includes 9 LEGO minifigures of beloved characters to bring iconic scenes to life. Turn the dial to set the chocolate waterfall in motion. Place an Oompa Loompa minifigure at the wheel of the Wonkatania boat to take Golden Ticket winners for a ride down the chocolate river. Create brick-built versions of incredible sweet edibles, such as the teacup plant and candy-cane tree. Open the Oompa Loompas’ secret door to Willy Wonka’s office. There is so much to explore in a factory where nothing is quite as it seems. This LEGO Ideas set makes a wonderful nostalgic gift for film lovers, allowing them to create fantasy decor that transforms any room into a room of “Pure Imagination”. Set contains 2,025-pieces.