SDCC 2013: Azog will remain an exclusive minifig ...

The title is misleading, but here's a piece of info that should please fans of the LEGO The Hobbit line, and disappoint anyone who has hitherto tried to put together all of the minifigs in the line:

A LEGO designer, in this case Mark Stafford, confirms that the minifig of Azog will be present in an upcoming set, but in a different color from the one distributed to a hundred copies at Comic Con.

He is a forumer by Eurobricks, SandMirror38, who posted an email received from the designer in question after asking him about Azog's upcoming presence in a set:

"... Hi, to answer your question I will say Yes, the Azog minifigure seen as an 'exclusive' at SDCC will come to a set in The Hobbit, although he will be slightly different..as he is called 'The Pale Orc 'him in white would look nicer wouldn't it? ..."

We can therefore deduce that the next version of Azog will be based on the same mold but that it will be white unlike the exclusive minifigure which is Tan.

This is good news, even if it seemed obvious that this important character of the saga, played on the screen by Manu Bennett alias Crixus (Spartacus) or Slade Wilson (Arrow), would sooner or later join the LEGO The inventory. Hobbit.

This info should not have a major impact on the price at which the exclusive minifig is traded on eBay (Click here to see current offers and auctions) although its exclusivity will obviously motivate compulsive collectors while the most reasonable fans will wisely wait for the release of the white version.

Edit of 27/07 : The designer in question denied having sent this message ... info or intox?