Tag Archives: The Lord of the Rings

LEGO Icons GWP 40761 The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol – You won’t believe what happens next! [Review]

With initial reactions to LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire finding it beautiful but not a great value, would a family fishing trip help? LEGO Icons GWP 40761 The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol will be available from release (Insiders April 2nd, everyone else April 5th) through April 8th (while supplies last!) with the purchase of Bag End: (US | CAN | UK). So let’s dig into this 181-piece GWP and see if it’s worth prioritizing a long-awaited purchase of LEGO Icons 10354 The Shire on initial release. If you miss the GWP during this window, it may be available from some 3rd party resellers like Amazon or eBay.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Check out the review of this new GWP below!

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New LEGO sets for April 2025 coming soon! [News]

No fooling, April is set to bring us some huge new LEGO sets on store shelves. Disney fans have their eyes on LEGO Disney 43263 Beauty and the Beast Castle, which has Insiders access beginning today. Tolkien lovers will certainly be excited for LEGO Icons 10354 Lord of the Rings: The Shire, with access as early as April 2nd. And for those who are looking to take a trip down the mighty Mississippi, LEGO Ideas 21356 River Steamboat hits store shelves on April 7th, again for Insiders only. Check out all the new sets, and some of the other releases from this year, by heading over to the LEGO website: LEGO US | LEGO CAN | LEGO UK.

Check out the images and details for all these new sets below!

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LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire – A Long Expected Party [Review]

Whenever you read this review, it will not be late, nor early. This review, like a wizard, arrives exactly when it intends to. LEGO has returned to Middle Earth with a series of large diorama sets, and after exploring the formation of the Fellowship in Rivendell, and the second of The Two Towers at Barad-Dûr, we visit the beginning of the story: The Shire. This large hobbit hole is accompanied by accessories that set the scene of Bilbo’s farewell party, and the passing of the Ring to Frodo. LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire contains 2017 pieces and 9 minifigures, and will be available April 2nd to LEGO Insiders (April 5th for everyone) for US $269.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99. Will you like it half as well as you should? Let’s pause for second breakfast…. ahhh, thats better. Now we’re ready to explore! bra

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Read on for our full review!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

LEGO takes us back to the start of Frodo’s journey with LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire [News]

With LEGO going back to the world of Lord of the Rings in 2023 with LEGO Icons 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell, we all knew it was a matter of time until we returned to the home of hobbit-kind. And next month, we’ll do just that with the 2,017-piece LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire. Including everything from the first few chapters/minutes of Fellowship of the Ring, we see minifigures of Bilbo, Frodo, Gandalf, Merry, Pippin, Samwise, Rosie Cotton, and the Proudfoots… err, Proudfeet… set against Bilbo’s home and the trappings of his 111th birthday party. Set to release on April 2nd for LEGO Insiders (April 5th for everyone else), LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire will come with a special gift-with-purchase when bought between release and the 8th: LEGO Icons 40761 Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol. Once available in stores, expect the new set to retail for US $269.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99.

LEGO Icons 10354 The Lord of the Rings: The Shire | 2,017 Pieces | Available April 2 for Insiders (April 5 for all) | US $269.99 | CAN $349.99 | UK £229.99

LEGO Icons 40761 The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol & Déagol | 181 Pieces | Available as GWP with 10354 until April 8 | US | CAN | UK

Here’s the press release on this new LotR set from LEGO:

Sean Astin Celebrates Middle-earth™ with LEGO Bricks!
New LEGO Icons Set Launches Alongside Exclusive Mini-Film
LONDON, UK (25th March, 2025) – Sean Astin, who portrayed Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy, celebrates Middle-earth™ in a new collaboration with the LEGO Group. Astin stars in an exclusive mini-film celebrating the launch of the LEGO® Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire™ set, a stunning 2,017-piece diorama that captures the heart of Hobbiton™.
The mini-film, is more than just a recreation of The Lord of the Rings in LEGO bricks; it’s a tribute to the cinematic artistry of the trilogy. Echoing the iconic Osgiliath monologue and cross-cutting sequences that define the films, the mini-film features Sean Astin taking viewers on a personal tour through the set.
Created in partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Consumer Products, the breathtakingly detailed Shire set recreates the festive atmosphere of Bilbo Baggins’ eleventy-first birthday celebration. From Bilbo’s hobbit-hole, complete with its iconic round green door and richly appointed interior, to the nine included minifigures—Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, Mrs. Proudfoot, Farmer Proudfoot, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise Gamgee, and Gandalf the Grey—the set brings this iconic scene to life.
Interactive elements include being able to transform a burning letter into The One Ring and make Bilbo vanish with a turn of a dial or recreating the dragon firework scene with interchangeable heads for Merry and Pippin. The set also includes Gandalf’s horse and cart, fireworks, a firework dragon figure, the Party Tree, a party pavilion, and Bilbo’s book, which can be displayed open or closed.
Sean Astin comments: “Not all those who wander are lost… especially when travelling through the astonishing detail of the Shire made out of LEGO bricks! From the smallest hobbit-hole to the grandest fireworks, building this set brought back so many fond memories of Middle-earth™. Now fans can journey there themselves and build their own adventures.”
A true collector’s item that completes the trilogy of sets, following previous Barad-dûr™ and Rivendell™ launches, the LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set is a testament to the enduring power of friendship, adventure, and the magic of Middle-earth™.
The LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: The Shire set is available for LEGO Insiders from 2nd April 2025, and for all from 5th April via LEGO.com/TheShire and LEGO Stores, priced at €269.99/ £229.99/ $269.99 In addition, between 2nd – 8th April, shoppers that purchase the new set (10354) via LEGO Stores and LEGO.com will receive a LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings: Sméagol™ & Déagol™ (18+) minibuild as a Gift with Purchase, while stocks last, T&C applies.

  • Age: 18+
  • Price: 269.99 EUR, 229.99 GBP, 269.00 USD
  • Pieces: 2,017 pieces
  • Product No.: 10354
  • Dimensions: W: 45cm, L: 27cm, H: 20cm
  • Available: LEGO Insiders 02.04.25 and 05.04.25 for All
  • Link: www.LEGO.com/TheShire

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Meat and more are back on the menu in LEGO Isengard

After weeks without elevenses or second breakfasts, with naught but Ent-draughts to sustain them, you can feel the joy when Merry and Pippen discover Saruman’s private food stash. MorlornEmpire (secondary account of Eli Willsea, aka ForlornEmpire) recreates the scene in a delicious LEGO vignette. The builder is no stranger to Lord of the Rings vignettes, and again he showcases his eye for screen detail with dynamic composition at miniature scale. The lattice roof is my favorite feature, providing a nice contrast from the color and textures on the stone walls. Look carefully and you’ll see that the floor is flooded, but not so high as to ruin those barrels of Old Toby.

Merry & Pippin Find The Food Stash

The scene was created for the Middle Earth LEGO Olympics 2024 for a final round duel against Isaiah Kepner, who ended up winning the competition with his tribute to Rohan’s Golden Hall feast.

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Raise a toast to the Golden Hall of the Rohirrim in LEGO

Of all the locations brought to life in The Lord of the Rings, Meduseld, the Golden Hall of the Horse Lords, is one of the most beloved. Isaiah Kepner recreates the building’s interior as Theoden toasts the victorious dead after the Battle of Helm’s Deep. The centerpiece here is the golden knotwork made from cleverly mixed tubes, window lattices, and other golden elements, framed by printed rune tiles. Isaiah meticulously matches the architectural details seen only in glimpses in the extended cut of Return of the King, including a perfect use of the stickered banners from Helm’s Deep and Isengard. Horses are integrated into the build with their heads used for wooden figureheads atop the columns, but I like to think that the Rohirrim actually have balconies where their horses can observe the festivities from above.

Hail the Victorious Dead

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A lovely white LEGO tower in the style of Lord of the Rings

This architectural scene by dicken liu would look right at home alongside the official LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings 10316 Rivendell, with arched airy towers in white, twisted trees, and a waterfall. Inside each of the two domed structures are giant green and blue gems worthy of the glory of Numenor. Several unique gold-colored elements are used as accents for the white towers, and the many steps carved into the rock in zig-zag patterns add to the mystery.

White Towers-01

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

Micro Barad-Dûr menaces a tiny middle earth!

If the price tag on the newly announced Lord of the Rings Barad-Dûr LEGO set is making your wallet feel like Viggo Mortensen’s toe, you should check out this micro-scale tower by Joe! From this mini monument to malevolent majesty, you can keep an eye on the hobbits with the DREAMZzz eye tile. With just a few pieces, Joe has captured the evil essence of the dark tower. The two outer towers are captured by a hilt and a plate with a bar, while all the spiky decorative business is made out of a few grills and a gear. I do wonder if Sauron will need a microscope to find the one ring at this scale!

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.

We return to a brick-built Middle Earth with LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings 10333 Barad-Dûr [News]

After several teasers released online over the past few days, LEGO has finally announced another large-scale set from Middle Earth: LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings 10333 Barad-Dûr. Set to hit store shelves this summer, Barad-Dûr rivals last year’s LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings 10316 Rivendell with 5,471 pieces. Not to be confused with 10237 Tower of Orthanc released back in 2013, this is the first time that we’re seeing the other half of the titular two towers, and it’s coming in strong at 32″ tall (83 cm). The set also includes 10 minifigures from the LotR novels/movies, including Sauron, the Mouth of Sauron, Frodo, Sam, and Gollum. LEGO Icons The Lord of the Rings 10333 Barad-Dûr will hit LEGO store shelves on June 1st for LEGO Insiders (June 4th for all others), and will retail for US $459.99 | CAN $599.99 | UK £399.99.

Check out more on this icon of Mordor below!

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A glimpse of the traveler’s journey through Middle Earth

From the LEGO builder Caleb Huet, we have a diorama titled ‘The Traveler.’ It’s a safe assumption that this scene intends to transport our imagination to somewhere in Middle Earth. Inspired by Jordi Escamilla’s ‘Waterfall,’ the builder has transformed inspiration from 2D art into the third dimension. Intricately crafted rockwork, lifelike tree builds, and mesmerizing water effects cover the piece, with each element of this diorama standing as a testament to the builder’s creativity and skill. Together, they create a scene that leaves us marveling at the potential of simple plastic elements to evoke such depth and beauty.

The Traveler

Have a closer look at the carriage centered over the bridge, and note the build techniques utilized in the bridge itself. Partially-connected bricks form the underside arch spanning between abutments in a great bit of brick ingenuity. The world of LEGO creations has been enriched by the vast and captivating content of The Lord of the Rings, so be sure check out some of the other LotR creations featured on TBB.

Teaser

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The End of the Lord of the Rings LEGO Saga

Thorsten Bonsch, our favorite prolific German builder of Lord of the Rings LEGO scenes, concludes his 5-year epic journey there and back again with this thorough rendition of that famous Hobbit hole, Bag End.

Bag End (Ultimate Movie Edition)

It seems fitting that Thorsten saved his most accurate, winding creation for last as he packs every tiny detail into the cozy Bagginses residence of the Shire.

crack open the round green door below!

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A Mûmakil kill still only counts as one

My wife and I are re-reading The Lord of the Rings together after having done so 22 years ago before the first Peter Jackson movie was released. By sheer coincidence, on the same day we read the chapter about the Battle of Pelennor Fields in The Return of the King, Kiwi builder Pieter Dennison shared the conclusion of a months-long project to recreate a Mûmak or Oliphaunt of the Haradrim in LEGO, based on how they appear in the movies.

"That still only counts as one"

Pieter’s build features all the iconic details of the enormous beast, from its four tusks (built from a series of 2×2 round bricks presumably strung on something like flex-tube), each with spikes on the end, to the war tower on the monstrous beast’s back. A closer look at the war tower shows just how huge this LEGO build really is, with about a score of minifigs riding into battle against the Rohirrim and men of Gondor.

closeup

If you want to see this in person, you can see it at the Christchurch Brick Show this July. And don’t miss all the other LEGO Oliphaunts we’ve featured over the years (also proving that this quote is the only one I ever use to write about this creature).

The Brothers Brick is funded by our readers and the community. Articles may include affiliate links, and when you purchase products from those links, TBB may earn a commission that helps support the site.