Most Surprising LEGO License

davee123 · February 2022

I know the Star Wars license supposedly used to prevent LEGO from doing anything that was "space-fantasy" themed until they re-negotiated the license in 2007-- I've sort of assumed that the Star Wars license is what prevents them from doing other Sci-Fi licenses like Star Trek, Buck Rogers, etc. that might compete with Star Wars. Anyone know if that's still a restriction?

DaveE

MaffyD · February 2022

Well, all the Marvel sets with spaceships etc in them would suggest there's no blanket embargo. But perhaps the issue is that SW is so pervasive worldwide with respect to SF. Even Trek (arguably) doesn't have that same appeal, and so the desire just isn't there.

And Paramount make silly decisions for who to partner with. They're on to their third brand of block manufacturer now for Trek.

iwybs · February 2022

I've always wanted Thunderbirds sets. I was so disappointed when Andrew Clark's Thunderbird 2 didn't make it out of review.

davee123 · February 2022

MaffyD said:

Well, all the Marvel sets with spaceships etc in them would suggest there's no blanket embargo.

I wondered about that, although I notice that both are owned by Disney, so they may be OK with that in particular.

But Last Starfighter, Star Trek, Buck Rogers, Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, Star Blazers, 2001 A Space Odyssey, etc, seem like good contenders for things like LEGO Ideas or other themes... but haven't seemed to happen.

I dunno-- I guess it seems plausible to me that Lucasfilm/Disney may be restricting what LEGO does in the Sci-Fi realm, but it could be coincidence as well. But if there are any details floating around in AFOLdom where it's been addressed, I'd be curious to know.

DaveE

CCC · February 2022

davee123 said: But Last Starfighter, Star Trek, Buck Rogers, Battlestar Galactica, The Expanse, Star Blazers, 2001 A Space Odyssey, etc, seem like good contenders for things like LEGO Ideas or other themes... but haven't seemed to happen.

Worldwide appeal may be an issue. I obviously know of Star Trek and 2001, I can just about remember the original Battlestar Galactica (although often mix it up with The Black Hole movie) and all I remember of Buck Rogers is that a kid in my class at school had Buck Rogers underpants when he was about 14 years old. The other stuff I have never heard of but it seems to be similar style to Battle of The Planets and G-Force (which I do remember).

davee123 · February 2022

CCC said:

Worldwide appeal may be an issue.

I'm often curious about that with regards to LEGO Ideas sets. Like, are Voltron, Seinfeld, Queer Eye, Sesame Street, Flinstones, etc, known well globally? I always thought of things like Sesame Street being a US-thing, and maybe not well known abroad. But I admittedly have no idea how recognizable they are in, say, Germany or Australia. Seems like sometimes they go the lesser-known route for one-offs (like Old Trafford, say?).

DaveE

CCC · February 2022

I think these days many popular series are known globally as the companies are global. Although even back in the day, Sesame Street, Flintstones, etc were on TV here. The Flintstones was a UK designer and Sesame Street and Voltron were Phillipinos.

Fizyx · February 2022

daewoo said:

Well, if we're wishing for licenses for official Lego sets, I could make a very long list which would include The Last Starfighter, Starblazers, Battle of the Planets, Space 1999, Star Trek (I would love a UCS Deep Space 9), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, etc.

Of all the clone brands of LEGO, I think that I have the least dislike for Mega Bloks. While their quality hasn't historically been as good as LEGO, they have come a long way and have something that I would call a decent product now. On top of that, they are absolutely more creative than most of the knockoff brands, and I have to give them a lot of respect for doing their own thing and not just copying LEGO wholesale like other clone brands. (I promise that this is relevant to the quote above and I'm getting there! :P )

That all said, I have never quite forgiven Mega Block for getting the licenses to Pokemon, as I would LOVE to have LEGO Pokemon, but most especially for getting the Star Trek license. Their Enterprise set is one of the only clone brand products I've ever strongly considered getting.

On a different topic; I fell in love with the new Villeneuve-helmed Dune movie, and have seen it probably upwards of 10 times already. And almost any time there's a ship or flyer of some kind on the screen, all I can think any more is 'that would make a sick LEGO set.' I know it's never going to happen, but jeez, I'm definitely wishing for it!

CCC · February 2022

Fizyx said:

That all said, I have never quite forgiven Mega Block for getting the licenses to Pokemon, as I would LOVE to have LEGO Pokemon, but most especially for getting the Star Trek license. Their Enterprise set is one of the only clone brand products I've ever strongly considered getting.

I doubt that LEGO cannot make Star Trek or Pokemon because Mega has the license. I think it is more likely that LEGO didn't want to make them, so Mega was able to get the licenses.

MaffyD · February 2022

^^ I have that Enterprise - still not got around to building it. I agree with @CCC about Lego's disinterest in other licensed 'space' themes - I don't think Disney has put anything in their way: DC sets exist, for example.

There's plenty of MOCs though.

iwybs · February 2022

Bluebrixx has the official license to Star Trek now. Their products include a UCS Enterprise and a minifig scale shuttlecraft each from TOS and from TNG. Does anyone have experience ordering from Bluebrixx and shipping to the USA? How long does it take? What's the quality of the parts and instructions and packaging? Does it get through customs ok? Do you have to do any currency conversion or anything complicated like that to pay for it?

Fizyx · February 2022

Oh, I definitely agree, I think LEGO passed on both licenses, but I have always wondered if they regretted that in either case a tiny bit. Especially in the case of Pokemon, which has stuck around in the popular zeitgeist much longer than I think anyone would have predicted 20 years ago. I will still always be sad that we don't have official sets, even though I know it's almost certainly down to LEGO's own choices.

Side note: I DO think that they regret not getting some licenses, especially in the video game area. I don't have a ton to back this up, really only one thing: In 2012, Mega Blok and Blizzard announced/released a line of World of Warcraft themed sets. They ended up releasing 20+ sets and like 50+ figures. (To be clear, I think LEGO ALSO passed on this license.) In 2019, LEGO and Blizzard released... Overwatch sets. I think that the release of Dimensions in 2015, and some of the licenses that it included that were decidedly outside of traditional LEGO themes, changed some of the fundamental thinking at LEGO about how to approach a lot of really popular IPs, and I have a feeling that if some of the brand managers today could go back in time to the 2000s again, they would be slapping their counterparts across the back of the head :P

Marshallmario · February 2022

I was surprised to see this! Playmobil for $500.00 I guess not just Lego thinks they have a market for very expensive sets.

Playmobil Star Trek U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701

-31% $345.00

List Price: $499.99

MaffyD · February 2022

^ Yeah, I've seen that. But no.

CCC · February 2022

Fizyx said:

Side note: I DO think that they regret not getting some licenses, especially in the video game area.

They also missed out not doing Despicable Me. Mega got on board early on and made quire a few series of CMF style packs and some regular sets and buildable Minions. There were quite a few buildable Minion LEGO MOCs too.

Then they got the license too late and also got caught up in the delayed start for the latest movie too.

Bumblepants · February 2022

CCC said:

Fizyx said:

Side note: I DO think that they regret not getting some licenses, especially in the video game area.

They also missed out not doing Despicable Me. Mega got on board early on and made quire a few series of CMF style packs and some regular sets and buildable Minions. There were quite a few buildable Minion LEGO MOCs too.

Then they got the license too late and also got caught up in the delayed start for the latest movie too.

That franchise primarily lives on as poorly conceived memes in boomer Facebook posts these days.

scottdd2 · February 2022

davee123 said:

CCC said:

Worldwide appeal may be an issue.

I'm often curious about that with regards to LEGO Ideas sets. Like, are Voltron, Seinfeld, Queer Eye, Sesame Street, Flinstones, etc, known well globally? I always thought of things like Sesame Street being a US-thing, and maybe not well known abroad. But I admittedly have no idea how recognizable they are in, say, Germany or Australia. Seems like sometimes they go the lesser-known route for one-offs (like Old Trafford, say?).
DaveE

As an Aussie, all of those listed are very well known here. Sesame Street for example has been on here since 1971.

Casper_vd_Korf · February 2022

Yeah, Sesame Street really is a worldwide thing, and a lot of countries have their own muppet characters. Here in the Netherlands a lot of American Sesame Street sketches have been dubbed, so we know those characters as well. (We even have the one guy who does both the Bert and Grover voices, just like frank oz)

Modeltrainman · February 2022

I wish Disney was classic, Dumbo, Lion King, etc.

Fizyx · February 2022

Casper_vd_Korf said:

Yeah, Sesame Street really is a worldwide thing, and a lot of countries have their own muppet characters. Here in the Netherlands a lot of American Sesame Street sketches have been dubbed, so we know those characters as well. (We even have the one guy who does both the Bert and Grover voices, just like frank oz)

Had a whole thing typed out and managed to lose it, but I'm doing it AGAIN because it's STILL one of the most mind-blowing things I've learned recently: In the last couple of years I found out that Big Bird has at least 7 distinct different coloration/versions internationally. A good example is Pino, who I'm sure @Casper_vd_Korf recognizes since he's from the Netherlands:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5015319/uploads/editor/p0/2iez2cuj5027.jpg

Now, as the Sesame Street footprint has grown and we've gotten more connected, many of these characters have actually appeared side-by-side together with Big Bird and are now described as 'cousins' as opposed to direct stand ins. (For instance, in the Netherlands, Big Bird is known as Neef Jan, or Cousin John in English, which is hilarious for its own reasons.) But all that said, it is kind of funny to me that some French kid might see the set and wonder why there's a big yellow bird in it instead of Toccata:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5015319/uploads/editor/6q/vvvj37gn32bf.jpg

Or some Turkish kid may wonder why Minik Kuş is suddenly all the wrong colors:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5015319/uploads/editor/ud/8d5shdf3fpai.jpg

PDelahanty · February 2022

Yeah, when Sesame Street was approved for Ideas, I had wondered how they'd handle the alternate characters from other countries. I guess the answer is to ignore it. Makes sense though. I doubt Turkey is a big enough market for them to do a re-color of the Big Bird minifig. Poupas (in Portuguese), Pino (Dutch), and Abelardo (Mexico) could probably be re-colors, but again they're not big enough markets by themselves. ...and Toccata and Garibaldo would need more than just a recoloring.

https://muppet.fandom.com/wiki/Big_Bird's_family#International cousins

SumoLego · February 2022

I don't presume to know anything about the negotiation and licensing of intellectual property, and in particular how LEGO or Paramount comes to such agreements.

LEGO is a premium product and has a tremendous amount of clout with their marketing partners. I also get the sense that LEGO has certain production slots for sets in certain segments of the market. Star Trek is not going to be a mass-market product for all demographics. It's not City, Friends, etc. You're looking at a low-volume or single-set licensing deal. I'm sure those bring lower margins which may not match what Paramount expects in licensing fees.

(And frankly, I don't recall any Paramount/LEGO collaborations in the past.)

andhe · February 2022

SumoLego said:
(And frankly, I don't recall any Paramount/LEGO collaborations in the past.)

Mission:Impossible (from dimensions) is Paramount. I have no idea how they managed that one with it being a WB produced game as well?

scottdd2 · February 2022

Fizyx said:

Casper_vd_Korf said:

Yeah, Sesame Street really is a worldwide thing, and a lot of countries have their own muppet characters. Here in the Netherlands a lot of American Sesame Street sketches have been dubbed, so we know those characters as well. (We even have the one guy who does both the Bert and Grover voices, just like frank oz)

Had a whole thing typed out and managed to lose it, but I'm doing it AGAIN because it's STILL one of the most mind-blowing things I've learned recently: In the last couple of years I found out that Big Bird has at least 7 distinct different coloration/versions internationally. A good example is Pino, who I'm sure @Casper_vd_Korf recognizes since he's from the Netherlands:

Now, as the Sesame Street footprint has grown and we've gotten more connected, many of these characters have actually appeared side-by-side together with Big Bird and are now described as 'cousins' as opposed to direct stand ins. (For instance, in the Netherlands, Big Bird is known as Neef Jan, or Cousin John in English, which is hilarious for its own reasons.) But all that said, it is kind of funny to me that some French kid might see the set and wonder why there's a big yellow bird in it instead of Toccata:

Or some Turkish kid may wonder why Minik Kuş is suddenly all the wrong colors:

Mind blown.

MrJackson · February 2022

My 2 year old loves Sesame Street and Elmo in particular. I should try to find these on YouTube just to see her reaction.

And back to licenses; now that Lego has the Lotus license, how cool would a Creator Expert 80's Esprit be?? While I'd love a full-sized Countach, I can't see them doing that as a Creator Expert set with the Technic Sian existing. But an Esprit would be awesome (and would fit the Lego medium). Heck, they have the 007 license, maybe they could make a version that turns into the submarine, or even give you the option like how the Porsche 911 could me made as a targa or coupe.

JudgeChuck · February 2022

^That would be a Day 1 purchase for me, being a huge Lotus fan and previous owner (before kids... ;-) )

MaffyD · February 2022

I'd buy it as well - I had a poster on my wall (that's just as good as driving one, right? :-)

Marshallmario · February 2022

So with the release of Ghostbusters Afterlife...why no Ghostbusters sets? I had hoped for a re-release of the smaller Ecto-1 with all 4 minifigures. Like they did with the Ship in a Bottle, Saturn Rocket because they were so popular. Average Bricklink price on a new #21108 right now is $166.00 (originally $49.99) so the demand is there. I know they are selling the larger one so I assume they have the license. I really don't think the two models compete for the same customer either. Orrr...maybe it's just wishful thinking because I don't want to spend $166.00 .
Other sets from the new movie would have been cool too, especially more Ghostbusters minifigures!

CCC · February 2022

Spice Girls has to be up there.

The_Rancor · February 2022

Isn’t the ‘UCS’ Ecto-1 meant to have features from Ghostbusters Afterlife, like the mobile collection unit and revolving ‘turret’ seat?

lowlead · February 2022

Transformers, of course...if true. The possibility of a LEGO Soundwave? Yes please!

TheOriginalSimonB · February 2022

The_Rancor said:

Isn’t the ‘UCS’ Ecto-1 meant to have features from Ghostbusters Afterlife, like the mobile collection unit and revolving ‘turret’ seat?

It certainly does. Also comes with "rust" stickers which I have left off. Just need to find time to move the ladder across to the other side again to be closer to the original.

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