Lego’s April Releases Concern Hobbits

After a blockbuster March, Lego is once again having a bit of a quiet season coming into April… but a small number of releases doesn’t make them any less major, as almost everything dropping this month is a huge set. Or, well, huge from your perspective, if you happen to be a halfling eager for the next Lord of the Rings release.

Yes, there may not be that many sets this month (Star Wars is smartly taking the month off to prepare for its usual extravaganza in May), but most of what is coming is pretty sizable. That includes the highlight set of the month, the third entry in the revived Lord of the Rings Icons series, whisking us away to the idyllic Shire to celebrate Bilbo’s 111th birthday. Check out what’s coming from Lego this month below!

Lego Icons Beauty and the Beast Castle

The latest Disney release takes us back to Beauty and the Beast with this lavish 2,916-piece castle. The set also comes with a line up of five minifigures (Gaston, LeFou, Belle, Beast, and Belle’s father Maurice), as well as five brick-built characters (Cogsworth, Chip and Mrs. Potts, Lumière, and Fifi)—and, of course, the enchanted rose at the heart of the story. ($280, available here from 4/1 for Lego Insiders, 4/4 wide release)

Lego Ideas River Steamboat

The next set recreation from the community-submitted ideas line is a massive old-timey paddle steamer. Clocking in at over four thousand pieces, the River Steamboat includes a fully functioning wheelhouse controlled by its own steering wheel, and three decks to build and explore: a boiler room with a small museum display, the main deck with a lavish dining lounge, and a small cabin for the crew. ($330, available here from 4/7 for Lego Insiders, 4/10 wide release)

Lego Icons Lord of the Rings Shire

After wowing us with the beautiful safe havens of Rivendell and the ominous spires of Barad-Dûr, Lego is opting for the quiet life with the third entry in its annual collector-focused Lord of the Rings series. Taking us to the opening act of Fellowship of the Ringthe 2,017-piece set recreates Bilbo and Frodo’s home in the hobbit hole of Bag End, as well as a few extra elements of the Shire to depict Bilbo’s 111th birthday bash at the Party Tree. As well as Bilbo and Frodo of course, the set comes with seven more minifigures inspired by those scenes: Gandalf the Grey, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Rosie Cotton, and Farmer Proudfoot and his wife. ($270, available here from 4/2 for Lego Insiders, 4/5 wide release)

Lego Marvel Iron Man’s Laboratory: Hall of Armor

Lego’s done plenty of Hall of Armor sets before, but this latest takes you to Iron Man 3 with a condensed take on Tony’s Lab. As well as three armor pods to house any Iron Man minifigures you may already have, the set includes the Mk 43 and Mk 6 versions of Tony’s armor, and the Iron Patriot suit, that you can slot in too. As well as them, the set has Pepper Potts and Aldrich Killian minifigures, and buildable versions of the Dum-E robot and the Igor Mk3 mech. ($55, available here)

Lego Yellow Travel Suitcase

Need to pick up a reminder of a recent vacation? More specifically, the thing you used to take stuff to and from that vacation? Well, Lego has you covered with this cute little model of a suitably Lego-yellow suitcase, which includes buildable accessories you can put inside, including a camera, boarding pass, toothbrush, and passport. At least this suitcase would nicely fit into your carry-on baggage! ($15, available here)

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