Happy 2024 everyone!
I am excited for a more aggressive release of figures this year and hope for a surprise exclusive at comic con this summer. We are looking at at least 4 releases and a massive cane troll. Going to be a great year for LOTR and Diamond Select.
I’m going to do some predictions for what we will see from future series and make a wishlist of my wants now that the fellowship is nearly complete.
My guesses: based on hints, and general release strategies (pairing hero’s with villains) Black Gate Aragorn, Eowyn, The Witchking, Bilbo (Hobbit) Thorin, Azog.
Here are my most wanted figures from the line:
2nd age Elf: one of my fav designs in the entire trilogy. A modern figure is a must for me.
Numenorian Soldier: Toybiz shockingly never got around to this one, love the design and it would have a most welcome spot on my shelf.
Gondorian Tree Guard: The Toybiz attempt was so awful in almost every way. A DS take would look splendid imo.
Faramir: One of my favorite characters and he would look awesome in this line with his scout uniform.
Eomer: Toybiz gave us half a really great Eomer, but a modern figure is super warranted.
Arwen: It would be amazing if DS could make the design of the helms deep version of Arwen that was cut.
Mordor Orc: Give me a nasty looking orc with some heads and armor configurations and I’ll army build the hell out of it.
Easterling: Comon these guys were cool as hell.
Quick note on the Hobbit: I’ll obviously get anything DS gets us but there are only a few Hobbit characters I would lose my mind over, Thanduril, Armored Nazgûl, Dain Ironfoot, or a Mirkwood elf.
All great picks, Arondir! Was just talking the other day with a family member about the good old days of toy collecting, where almost any character got an action figure. To be a fan of Star Wars or LOTR in the early 00's was a GREAT time. Army builders, creatures, tertiary characters, costume variants, action features, playsets. If you saw it on screen, chances are it would get a figure. There was nothing like it, especially back before the internet was really a thing, so there would be many times of walking into the toy store or down the toy aisle and you saw something you didn't even know was coming out. Man, I miss those days.
I'm not sure how likely DST is to get into more army builders, at least on the good side. Villains always seem to be an easier sell, unless it's something like clone troopers. But I'd love to at least see a prologue Elven warrior, or maybe a Rohan soldier whenever they get around to more TT stuff.
I feel pretty confident we'll eventually see most of the big players- Galadriel, Elrond, Arwen, Eowyn, Theoden. I'm fairly confident about more middle-of-the-road characters like Eomer and Faramir. I guess if I had one big wish from the LOTR movies that doesn't seem as big a necessity to most would be Wormtongue. I've always loved the sneaky, sniveling sidekicks, and he would be a great way to pad out a Saruman display. Along with the knife, could even throw in the Palantir stand with him for some added value.
As for the Hobbit, my biggest wants are Radagast and Thranduil. I'm in the minority of folks who really liked Radagast, and more cool Elves are always welcome. It would be incredible to finally get all of Thorin's company, too. I know they may not be as popular with the masses as many other characters, and therefore a tougher sell, but I said the same about most of the background Nightmare Before Christmas characters, and most of them sold pretty well, at least around here. Especially as the line continues to grow and picks up steam, I wouldn't necessarily rule out anyone, even if it's just as con exclusive or something.
ohhh ok Radagast would look great in figure form I’ll give you that.
we also have ROP season 2 and the animated Rohan movie, I wonder if either would entice DS for figures.
@msword so you mean characters from The Hobbit films and not like Hobbit characters like Merry and Pippin? Because I really want The Hobbit trilogy figures!
We are finally offering Merry and Pippin later this month, sorry for the delay. They will be individually packaged figures.
Series 6 (Sam and Saruman) will arrive in stores January 24.
We are working on a con exclusive, but due to the limited nature of those releases, it will NOT be a new and/or obscure character -- when creating the steel molds for a new figure, we need to make as many of them as possible due to the related costs. It will instead be an existing character in a more deluxe version, accessory-wise and packaging-wise. Maybe not for everyone, but I think it will be very impressive when it is revealed.
Thanks for the update, MSWord! Glad to hear Merry and Pippin are on the way soon. Wonder if them being packaged individually means pushing back Gandalf?
Super stoked for Sam and Saruman.
As for the exclusive, that's a tantalizing tease. My immediate thoughts were either Frodo, Gandalf, or Aragorn. Maybe Gandalf with more magic accessories for his staff? Or Aragorn with his bow and arrow? Any of them with elven cloaks for LAG? Can't wait to see!
We are finally offering Merry and Pippin later this month, sorry for the delay. They will be individually packaged figures.
Series 6 (Sam and Saruman) will arrive in stores January 24.
We are working on a con exclusive, but due to the limited nature of those releases, it will NOT be a new and/or obscure character -- when creating the steel molds for a new figure, we need to make as many of them as possible due to the related costs. It will instead be an existing character in a more deluxe version, accessory-wise and packaging-wise. Maybe not for everyone, but I think it will be very impressive when it is revealed.
Thank you for the updates!
is there a chance we get one more wave out in 2024 with Gandalf being pushed back?
very excited about the con exclusive. Lots of possibilities, I am actually going to guess it’s the Moria Orc. Some new weapons and a nice diorama stand to tie into the cave troll?
Not sure when we will offer Series 8, and whether Gandalf the White will be a part of that or its own thing. Splitting up Merry and Pippin (by necessity) has put us off a little, so I am waiting to hear who will actually be offered next. But if we offer them in the next few months, it should ship by end of year. So maybe not four series, but three series and an exclusive in 2024?
Hobbit figures will be a 2025 release at this point, but the first two are done, I believe.
Not sure when we will offer Series 8, and whether Gandalf the White will be a part of that or its own thing. Splitting up Merry and Pippin (by necessity) has put us off a little, so I am waiting to hear who will actually be offered next. But if we offer them in the next few months, it should ship by end of year. So maybe not four series, but three series and an exclusive in 2024?
Hobbit figures will be a 2025 release at this point, but the first two are done, I believe.
Ohhh... these nuggets are killing me. I'm actually just fine with the time between releases at this point as this is the most stress-free line that I collect. As long as the fellowship gets finished, I'm already a happy dude. I now have a whole year to look forward to The Hobbit figures. "First two are done".. I'm so pumped.
I do remember there being mentioned that there was a female character planned out as well. So, Series 8 could possibly have 3 characters, if Gandalf the White is included? Or would that push out one of the other characters in the series? Series 6 is Sam and Saruman, 7 is Merry and Pippin and 8 is ??, and 9 is The Hobbit? Do I have that correct?
Sorry is this was addressed earlier or if I'm missing something in the listing, but do we know exactly which accessories are going to be included with Sam? I only see the cloak and a mention of other accessories but no specifics.
I've got high hopes that he'll come with Sting, his own sword, and the backpack, but I know these releases can lose accessories between prototypes and full release. I'm also a little concerned that the preorder pictures don't show a scabbard.
Have any of our talented 3D printing people considered making the armored Witch King out of the released one?
You would only need to make a helmet and shoulder armor pieces that should all snap on.
Some tray shots of Sam/Saruman if anyone is interested:
Those look fantastic! Sam is really filling out that tray, and those alternate arms for Saruman look great too! The pic of him and Gandalf together really makes me excited to add him to my shelf. It looks like the Palantir is fixed to his hand, which is a bit of a bummer, but at least means I won't have to worry about it becoming a cat toy around here. Just glad we're getting it at all!
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