It has taken a while, but LEGO has finally lifted the curtain on its heavily-rumoured third Lord of the Rings set. Releasing on 5 April, the 10354 Lord of the Rings: The Shire kit brings brick and series enthusiasts to Bag End, the Hobbit-hole that Bilbo Baggins, Frodo, and Samwise Gamgee call home.
More than that, it recreates a very specific scene from the book and Peter Jackson’s trio of film adaptations: Bilbo’s birthday celebration. A featurette starring the character’s actor, Sean Astin, shows the 2,017-piece build off in greater detail, from the Hobbit standing under a birthday banner to its interior, comprising a vestibule, a study, and a kitchen.
Nine mini-figures will be included as part of the set, including Bilbo, Frodo, Proudfeet, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, Samwise, and the standard-sized Gandalf (the rest are smaller to reflect Hobbit proportions). Fans can also expect some pretty neat details, such as a fireworks tent, a party tree, and a cake with giant candles.
Priced at US$269.99 / S$399.90, LEGO 10354 Lord of the Rings: The Shire is more wallet-friendly than its Barad-dur and Rivendell counterparts – and rightly so, as the set has the least number of pieces. LEGO Insider members will get first dibs starting 2 April, and any purchase between then and 8 April comes with a bonus gift build featuring Smeagol and Deagol, which serves as a nod to the opening scenes of 2003’s Return of the King.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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Kevin Low
