There’s a magical oasis of peace, or many pieces, coming to LEGO. Like the forces of Sauron, it turns out The Lord of the Rings saga only hid in the shadows after a spate of themed sets were released a decade ago. No, the franchise’s future isn’t just BrickHeadz sets — in 2023, the saga is making a King-like return, starting with the impressive Elven sanctuary of Rivendell as seen in celluloid glory in Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring.
Explore Elrond’s House in LEGO
It’s been a while since the famous plastic bricks have represented Middle-earth, but it’s been worth the wait. The official spiel conjures up some Tolkien magic:
“Celebrate the beloved film series with the extraordinary new LEGO® Icons The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell™ set. Filled with 15 character mini-figures and authentic details that reveal themselves as you build, this epic set lets you recreate favorite scenes and watch new stories unfold.”
It’s easy to see how that’s true. The new Icons set features an impressively cute reconstruction of the realm, allowing fans to recreate important scenes from The Fellowship of the Ring and The Return of the King (yes, that means Frodo’s bedroom reunion). But the brilliantly captured details from the spellbinding sanctuary should trigger the imagination, too.
The set includes Elrond’s council, the elven tower, and the stronghold’s leafy exterior. Inside, you can take Aragorn for a glimpse of the shards of Nasril before finding Bilbo Baggins getting a well-deserved rest as he writes There and Back Again.
The largest Lord of the Rings LEGO set yet
It’s not the first time we’ve been to a LEGO representation of the magical Elven otherworld. In 2013, the manufacturer released a modest 243-piece set focusing on a crucial Rivendell scene from the saga’s first film, the Council of Elrond.
There’s no need to start searching for copies of that retired set now. The new monster set includes 15 mini-figures. That means the entire Fellowship of the Ring, along with Elrond, Arwen, Bilbo Baggins, and a few supporting elves for good measure.
The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell takes the crown as the largest LEGO tribute to the saga. Its impressive 6167-pieces dwarfs its nearest rival — Saruman’s Tower of Orthanc, which came in at a measly 2359 pieces when it was released in 2012. In fact, LEGO proudly states Rivendell is in the top 10 biggest lego sets of all time. It’s so large it may retain the title despite rumors that some epic Lord of the Rings sets are set to follow later this year.
When can you build LEGO Rivendell?
The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell will release on March 8, 2023, and will be available directly from LEGO and all good brick retailers. Yes, it’s as simple as walking to Mordor. If you just can’t wait, LEGO VIP members can get early access to the set direct from LEGO from March 5. You can join LEGO’s VIP scheme for free at LEGO.com before that date.
Fans may be grateful for the month or so lead time. There’s an impressive price tag to go with the magnificent brick count. Start saving your Mithril for a set that will launch at $499.99/£429.99.
On the VIP Launch Day, LEGO will be summoning its own Council. UK Fans can register at LEGO Stores to pick up a copy of the set and meet the designers behind the epic build at the LEGO Store Leicester Square, London.