This year LEGO® returns to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter with an array of new playsets, collectable minifigures and BrickHeadz, but this isn’t the first time Potter and chums have appeared in LEGO form. Way back in 2001 the LEGO Group signed a deal with Warner Bros. to release a number of sets based on the Harry Potter film series, which in turn were based on J.K Rowling’s extremely successful series of books. During 2001 and through to 2007, a number of playsets were released based on various films from the series, as each new film appeared in cinemas new sets were released. The first few sets featured classic yellow skinned minifigures but as the theme progressed they eventually became flesh toned, much like the Star Wars sets did.
After 2007 the Harry Potter took a break for a couple of years, until it returned in 2010 with a few new sets, some of which revisited some of those previously released in past waves. 2010 also saw Harry Potter join the LEGO Games line-up with Harry Potter Hogwarts. This buildable game included a selection of Harry Potter microfigs and a stylised version of Hogwarts.
Although there weren’t that many sets released upon the themes return, those that were featured improved builds and much better minifigures of a number of well known characters from the films. The later range of sets also featured some of the biggest, including the much sought after Diagon Alley, Hogwarts Castle and the Hogwarts Express.
Although the release of sets weren’t as prevalent upon on the 2010 returns compared to their earlier years, the adventures of Harry Potter were retold in two new LEGO video games from TT Games. The first, released in 2010 covered years 1-4 and the following year the story was wrapped up in LEGO Harry Potter: Years 5-7. Both games were extremely popular and in 2016 they were remastered for an PlayStation 4 exclusive double pack, dubbed the LEGO Harry Potter Collection. As well as improved graphics and trophies, the game made use of the DualShock 4’s unique features with Students in Peril crying out for help via the controllers speaker and magic spells lighting up the lightbar.
Years 1-4 and Years 5-7 wouldn’t be Harry’s only video gaming adventures, as the boy wizard and a couple of his friends took a trip to the LEGO Multiverse with a trio of LEGO Dimensions expansion packs. In 2016 a Harry Potter Team pack was released and include new minifigures of Harry and Voldemort, along with minibuilds of the enchanted Ford Anglia and Hogwarts Express. Then in 2017, a Fun Pack was released which included Hermione and brick-built Buckbeck. All these characters unlocked a Potter-themed Adventure World and a couple of Battle Arenas.
With the Potter films coming to a natural end, Warner Bros. turned to a some of the spin-off material based in the Potter universe, officially know as the Wizarding World. This brought the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find them to the big screen in 2016 as well as one of the new LEGO Dimensions Story Packs along with a Fun pack. The Story Pack allowed you to play the events of the movie in the LEGO Dimensions universe and of course introduced the first LEGO sets based on the film.
Which leads us nicely to 2018 and the return of LEGO Harry Potter, later this year and new range of sets will be released based on both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts movies. These will include playsets, a series of Collectable Minifigures and BrickHeadz. These new sets will include completely new minifigures and will make use of new elements to offer the best versions of the sets. The first sets to be revealed is the Hogwarts Great Hall, which will include 10 minifigures and comes in at nearly 900 pieces but there are rumours of a much, much bigger set.
22nd December 2020
cool i love lego harry potter