Earlier this evening the Walt Disney Company held it’s latest Investor Day event. Within all the facts and figures, a raft of new content was announced. This includes new movies and Disney+ content from Star Wars, Marvel, Pixar, National Geographic and of course Disney. Each of these iconic brands continues to partner with the LEGO Group for various LEGO products, books and media content. Now I’m not a fan of sites who cover stuff not normally connected to their usual output but although not explicitly confirmed during the presentation, much of today’s content announcements could have an impact on future LEGO products. Especially after a shift to streaming focus by Disney and the success of The Mandalorian, the LEGO Group will have to look at the streaming platform for product inspiration.
Star Wars
After the success of The Mandalorian, Disney+ will be used to expand the Star Wars universe even further. New series confirmed today include Rangers of the New Republic and Ahsoka, both set in the same time era as The Mandalorian. Additional content will include Andor, a spy thriller prequel to Rogue One, coming in 2022. A limited series based 10 years after Revenge of the Sith, will focus on Obi-Wan Kenobi and sees the return of Hayden Christensen as Darth Vader. An event series featuring the galaxies smoothish scoundrel Lando, along with The Acolyte, a dark side tinged series based in the High Republic era. All these new series could offer the LEGO Star Wars Design Team a wealth of inspiration for new LEGO Star Wars sets.
There will also be new animated content joining previously announced The Bad Batch series. Star Wars Visions will be a series of stories told by Japanese animators. A Rogue Squadron movie has also been announced for Christmas 2022, want more LEGO X-wings? You got it!
Lucasfilm
A sequel series to Willow has already been announced and could expand Warwick Davis’ Minifigure appearances. Indiana Jones will return in 2022 and hopefully see the return of the popular LEGO theme based on the iconic film franchise.
Disney
The popular Disney Princess line could seek inspiration from a prequel series to Beauty and the Beast. With possible new themes could be based on the Percy Jackson live-action series. Who secretly wants some Turner and Hooch LEGO sets? From the movie side of things, there will be new animated films based on past IP including Ice and Night at the Museum. Live-action remakes of animated classics have always inspired some of the various LEGO Disney sets, so live-action versions of The Little Mermaid, Pinocchio, Peter Pan & Wendy and Rescue Rangers are ripe for LEGO experiences. Disney+ will be getting series based on various Disney Princesses including Tiana and Moana. Encanto will be the 60th animated feature from Walt Disney Animation Studios and if other animated classics are anything to go by, expect a series of LEGO sets based on this newly announced feature film.
Pixar
Pixar is a little less represented in LEGO form, but their stories have given us interesting sets based on Toy Story, Cars and The Incredibles as well as Wall-E via LEGO Ideas. But Cars are back as a Disney+ series and they will be new feature films including Luca and Lightyear, a Toy Story spin-off of sorts, which tells the story of the original blockbuster adventure which inspired the toy.
Marvel Studios
Much of Marvel’s offerings have already been revealed in part. But the various movies and Disney+ series will surely inspire future LEGO Marvel Super Heroes sets. These include Falcon & the Winter Soldier, Loki, and possibly What If? which could result in some great Minifigure variants. Phase 4 kicks off Shang-chi, Captain Marvel 2 and Eternals, which will definitely inspire upcoming sets. But additional Disney+ series including She-Hulk, Ms Marvel, Armour Wars, Moon Knight and Hawkeye may also follow the success sets based on The Mandalorian. Plus the Fantastic Four are joining the MCU and hopefully the LEGO Line-up.
