Unless you live in a cave deep in Eastern Siberia, you probably know that one of the movie events of the coming year is the next Peter Jackson film: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey whose official release is scheduled for December 14, 2012.

Here is the trailer for this two-part adaptation of Tolkien's work, the second part of which is scheduled for late 2013.

If you still haven't seen the trilogy Lord of the Rings, give yourself the pack Blu-ray Limited Edition with all long versions in 15 discs (!) for Christmas, you will not regret it ....

http://youtu.be/UGM1RB73Zso

As with the Star Wars range, it didn't take long to see the first preliminary visuals of the 2012 LEGO Lord of the Rings range appear.

9469 Gandalf Arrives - Gandalf & Frodo

9470 Shelob Attacks - Samwise, Frodo & Gollum

9471 Uruk-hai Army - 4 x Uruk-hai, Eomer, 1 x Rider Of Rohan

9472 Attack On Weathertop - Merry, Frodo, Aragon & 2 x Nazgulhs

9473 The Mines Of Moria - Pippin, Gimli, Legolas, Boromir, 2 x Orcs & Cave Troll

9474 The Battle Of Helm's Deep - Aragon, Gimli, Haldir, Theoden, 5 x Uruk-hai

9476 The Orc Forge - 5 x Orcs

Those who expected something exceptional are at their expense. While these visuals are drafts, it does feel like this line is a big joke. We will have to wait for photos of the final versions to be sure, but I think that apart from the minifigs (and more), we should not expect much. It really feels like we're getting sets from the 1980s ....

Let's go for a list of what could be the sets of the LOTR range for June 2012.

This list which is currently circulating everywhere, on forums and on Youtube (cf. TheLegoAdrian's comment on the previous article) was posted on 16/12 by Eurobricks forumer AllanSmith (see here), and a few hours later, another forumer, Cwetqo, confirmed the existence of these sets (see here:

9469 Gandalf Arrives
9470 Shelob Attacks
9471 Uruk-hai Army
9472 Attack on Weathertop
9473 The Mines of Moria
9474 The Battle of Helm's Deep
9476 The Orc Forge

The names are catchy and promising.

We will take care not to get carried away on this list before having confirmation from other sources, or before having access to the first preliminary visuals.

In addition, there is no point in getting excited about the names of these sets either, LEGO being the specialist in pompous names, to ultimately offer us sets that have little to do with what the AFOLs expected. ..

Obviously, just like you, I'm impatient to know the list of sets that will be offered to us. But more than just a simple list, I'd start jumping all over the place when the first visuals pop up.

In the meantime, since we still don't know anything, let me illustrate this article with a photo relating to Peter Jackson's next film: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey...

The official announcement by LEGO of the license Lord of the Rings et The Hobbit Kicks off speculation and other rumors about what future minifigs and sets could be that will make us spend even more money in 2012.

Fans of Tolkien and LEGO are eager to see what the manufacturer will offer concrete, based on a universe immensely rich in characters, places, events, etc ... The possibilities are numerous and the forums are already brimming with hypotheses. all kinds. Assumptions which are, as usual, a little too optimistic ...

In my humble opinion, one should not expect a miracle with this new license. We will be entitled to pretty minfigs, no doubt about it. LEGO has a know-how in this area that must be recognized. The visual of Frodo published today is also impressive, even if it is only a 3D rendering.

Concerning the sets, I am more reserved. When we see the Pirates of the Caribbean range, the set 6860 The Batcave (2012) from the LEGO Super Heroes range, or the set 7879 Hoth Echo Base (2011) from the Star Wars range, we quickly understand that LEGO offers playsets which quickly show their limits: reconstitution of places very (too) symbolic to be faithful, somewhat limited playability, rough finish ...

Commercial constraints have gone through this and LEGO must find a certain balance. LOTR & The Hobbit license sets will not escape this rule and you should not expect a Hobbiton verdant with leafy foliage and ultra-detailed playhouses or a 3000-piece UCS from the Battle of Helm's Deep... The MOCs on the LOTR universe that we've seen so far are certainly exciting, but LEGO won't be producing this type of set.

As far as I'm concerned, minifigs are a priority. I can't wait to be able to get a Frodo, a Gandalf, a Gimli or even a Legolas ... A few wagons, horses, trees, rocks, boats will do to accompany these minifigs. One or two Battle Packs with orcs will also be welcome.

I know the fans of Castle or kingdoms will have no trouble integrating these minifigs into their medieval universe. Adding a touch of fantasy, they'll be able to recreate many scenes from the LOTR trilogy movies.

In fact, now that the license is official, many questions remain: How will LEGO reproduce the ring, the precious? How will Gollum take shape? Will we be entitled to a minifigure or an assembly of parts? ...

If LEGO succeeds in offering a range of quality sets, this license could quickly become a big commercial success. However, it will probably be limited in time, since it is directly linked to the LOTR films already released and those which will be released in 2012 and 2013.

LEGO will also undoubtedly take the opportunity to do away with the Kingdoms range, completed in style with the marketing of the set. 10223 Kingdoms Joust at the end of the year.

Finally, I put you the text of the press release which could imply that the minifigs would also be marketed separately (in sachets?):

... Information about the sets and collectible mini figures from both collections will be unveiled at a later date at TheLordoftheRings.LEGO.com.

It is done.
And that's good news.
LEGO has officially announced the license Lord of the Rings et The Hobbit for 2012.
This multi-year agreement with Warner Bros. gives LEGO access to all the characters, locations or scenes in Peter Jackson's films on the universe of Lord of the Rings, but also the two films scheduled for late 2012 and late 2013, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey et The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.

The first sets will be available in June 2012 and based exclusively on the universe of Lord of the Rings. In December 2012, sets on the theme of the film The Hobbit will also see the light of day.

Le official press release LEGO.

Full article to read on Variety.com.

Le new dedicated space on the LEGO site announcing the license for 2012.