We have two days to go before we jump into hyperspace once more and experience Star Wars all over again with its first anthology film Rogue One. We saw an impressive line-up of LEGO sets dedicated to the spin-off film, and expect much more as 2017 kicks in. We previously mentioned some of these sets last September and it’s great to see that these predictions were quite accurate. So before we hit the theaters on Friday to see Rogue One on the big screen, let’s pause and take a look at the recent developments on this highly successful theme. Thanks to some kind souls over at Eurobricks and Reddit, we now have an idea how these next wave of LEGO Star Wars sets will be like, as it due for release this Summer of 2017. Here’s how they are in a nutshell.
75144 Snowspeeder
Based on vehicles used in Hoth and presumably part of the Star Wars Ultimate Collector Series, this UCS may roughly be based on its similarly named, smaller cousin, 75049.
75166 Battle Pack(EP VII)
Predicted to be from Episode VII The Force Awakens, the minifigs included in this set are 2 First Order Stormtroopers, 1 Flametrooper, and 1 Officer.
75167 Battle Pack (Bounty Hunters)
This one is a sure win for those elite few of Star Wars fans who have learned to admire the exploits (or mishap) of these legendary Bounty Hunters. This battle pack is rumored to include Dengar, IG-88, 4-LOM and Zuckuss.
75178 (Jakku Quadjumper)
Remember that starship preferred to by Rey and Finn over the hulking Millennium Falcon in TFA?
Though too bad it didn’t get more than a minute of airtime when J.J. Abrams decided it’s better off as pyrotechnic material, it is good to know that it may get the LEGO treatment that it deserves very soon. Minifigures for this set include Rey, Finn, BB-8 and a First Order Stormtrooper.
75179 Rebel Hangar
Possibly from Episode VI Return of the Jedi. The set is said to include an A-Wing and a rebel base hangar. Minifigs expected to be with this set are Lando, a Rebel Pilot and a Crewman.
75180 (Rathtar Escape)
A highly dangerous tentacled predator that first appeared on the big screen in The Force Awakens, the Rathar is also fortunate enough to be immortalized in a LEGO set.
Perhaps it may bear some semblance with the same tentacled creature (Dormammu?) as seen from Doctor Strange’s Sanctum Sanctorum 76060. Minifigures include Chewbacca, Han Solo, 2 more figures, possibly as members of the Guavian Death Gang.
75182 Republic Fighter Tank
Back in 2008, LEGO came up with a set under its Star Wars The Clone Wars subtheme named as Republic Fighter Tank (7679). This time, LEGO may have plans to rehash the set and throw in some newer versions of the following minifigures: Aayla Secura, a Clone Commander and 2 Battle Droids.
75183 Darth Vader Transformation
Another seemingly rehashed set, this expected LEGO Star Wars summer set takes hint from an earlier one from 2005 bearing the same title (Darth Vader Transformation 7251).
Based on that final epic scene where Palpatine takes into his custody the broken and wounded body of Anakin which he later transformed to become Darth Vader, the set is said to include a Battle Damaged Anakin, Darth Vader, and Emperor Palpatine.
75185 Tracker I
Other than being a part of the Freemaker subtheme, we have no other details about this set except for another minifig version of Emperor Palpatine and Rowan.
75186 Arrowhead
The Freemakers has a penchant for naming their creations based on their primary features, and this one is no exception. Though the set’s name is not yet final, we may expect the minifigures of Mon Calmari, RO-GR, and Mr. & Mrs. Freemaker to be a part of this set.
75191 Jedi Starfighter with Hyperdrive Booster Ring
Hinting at an Episode II Attack of the Clones reference, set 75191 may feature the looks of a Delta-7 Jedi Starfighter mounted on its Hyperdrive Booster Ring similar to the one used by Obi Wan as he chases Boba Fett across a field of asteroids. This is also one of the coolest space dog fights that I ever saw in a Star Wars film. Click here to watch its video.
Included in this set are the minifigure versions of the younger Obi Wan Kenobi, Boba Fett, and an Astromech. It is interesting to note that since a hyperdrive docking ring was mentioned (as we see it on that epic space dogfight in Episode II), will it be possible that the set will come with a smaller version of the Slave 1 as well?
There are still a handful of LEGO Star Wars sets waiting to be revealed next year – 25 to be exact as listed by Brickset. Given the attention that Star Wars and Disney licenses are getting from LEGO, we can expect that LEGO still has a lot of surprises in store for us.