LEGO Group, the world’s leading construction toy manufacturer, today announces a partnership with Lucasfilm Ltd. to produce building sets based on the Indiana Jones franchise—one of the most globally successful movie series ever made.
Three worldwide blockbuster films, and the highly anticipated May 2008 premiere of the new Indiana Jones movie, will provide inspiration for a series of highly iconic and action-packed build-and-play adventures of the rogue archaeologist and hero.
“There is such a natural synergy between Lucasfilm and LEGO enthusiasts of all ages that makes combining our stories with the LEGO play pattern an easy decision,“ said Howard Roffman, President of Lucas Licensing. “We’re thrilled to have a chance to share the history and success of LEGO Star Wars with another Lucas franchise.“
Four playsets based on the classic trilogy are slated to launch in January 2008. Three sets based on iconic scenes from Raiders of the Lost Ark include: Temple Escape ($49.99 USD) which brings the legendary rolling boulder scene to life in LEGO form as Indy faces spiders and poisoned darts in his search for the Golden Idol of Fertility. With Race for the Stolen Treasure ($29.99 USD), kids build two desert vehicles and recreate Indy’s truck-hopping fight to save the treasure. Indiana Jones and the Lost Tomb ($19.99 USD) recreates the eye-popping suspense of Indy rescuing Marion from slithering snakes in an Egyptian tomb. And based on Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade action, Motorcycle Chase ($9.99 USD) depicts the scene where Indy and his father escape with the map to the hidden temple.
Four more constructible playsets based on the fourth movie will launch in May 2008, with suggested retail prices ranging from $9.99 to $79.99 USD.
“We are thrilled to be bringing yet another blockbuster Lucasfilm property to life for LEGO kids and adult enthusiasts,“ said Jill Wilfert, vice president, partnership and alliance management for the LEGO Group. “The marriage of strong story, well-known characters, dynamic vehicles and action-oriented movie scenes with the classic LEGO play pattern is a proven winner, and Indiana Jones lends itself perfectly to the build-and-play world of LEGO building.“
For more than 25 years, audiences have been enraptured by the exploits of Indiana Jones. The film trilogy—Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade—garnered 14 Academy Award nominations, won 7 Oscars, and grossed over $1,182,000,000 at the box office. The films are among the most popular movies ever made and have become a legendary part of film history.
I’m surprised this never happened before. Indiana Jones is a perfect vehicle for more LEGO toys. Too bad they’re so damn expensive. I’ll just have to satisfy myself with our old LEGO collection, assuming it hasn’t been thrown away.
Instructions? What instructions? LEGO was the ultimate in freeform creative toys. More stable than plasticine, more variable than mechano, able to transport a kid to new worlds where the possiblity of change was infinite and depended only on the mind of the creator. Usually in response to the creation of their siblings.
Lego was cool! That and Playmobil were my favourite toys. Gray is right, ideal vehicle to engulf in creative fantasy. I build everything from it, from spaceships through cars to laser weapons.
Instructions? What instructions? LEGO was the ultimate in freeform creative toys. More stable than plasticine, more variable than mechano, able to transport a kid to new worlds where the possiblity of change was infinite and depended only on the mind of the creator. Usually in response to the creation of their siblings.
I’d usually follow the instructions when I first opened the set, make whatever it described, look at it, say “Okay, that’s nice”, then tear it all apart and build my own things.
LaMa - 20 June 2007 01:51 AM
Lego was cool! That and Playmobil were my favourite toys. Gray is right, ideal vehicle to engulf in creative fantasy. I build everything from it, from spaceships through cars to laser weapons.
I once made a real laser partly from Legos. . .that was fun. Of course, it had all the power of one of those little key-chain laser pointers, but it was the principle of the matter. Then there was the Lego mortar that launched the cardboard tube from paper-towel rolls, or the Lego howitzer with pneumatic elevation. . .the cats learned to run pretty quickly.
Or it could have been from any of the various Mummy (not movie)/Egypt or general Adventure sets that were closely based on Indiana Jones. I have several of those packed away right now since I don’t have room to have them set up. Some of the LEGO mini figures in those sets look a lot like Indy.
In fact Irregular Webcomic! uses one of those Indy-like figures in its Cliffhangers theme story arc as an Indy-esque spoof. (That first link goes to the comic main page. The second link goes to the very first Cliffhangers comic.)
I miss the intricate pyramids and complicated temples I used to make. The castles, the fortresses, the sheer ingenuity of the traps and little gizmos that were in them. And I now wish I hadn’t given it all away to charity.
