It’s pretty obvious that LEGO has heavily invested much of its recent sets around the more popular MCU titles released since 2012’s Avengers. Since then, we have seen LEGO prolifically producing sets focusing on the most intense and epic battles as seen in films such as Iron Man 3, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Guardians of the Galaxy, Avengers: Age of Ultron, Ant-Man, Captain America: Civil War, and the upcoming film featuring the Sorcerer Supreme, Doctor Strange.
Since MCU’s Phase 3 has already been officially heralded following the release of Captain America: Civil War, there are a lot of potential for future LEGO Marvel Superheroes sets, and the LEGO fan community is closely keeping watch. Slated to follow Doctor Strange next year on May 5, the galaxy’s motley crew of defenders will be gracing the big screen once again with their latest sequel Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2. This time around, there has been a lot of interest connected to the sets that LEGO may release surrounding the film. If you recall, LEGO released only 3 sets connected to Guardians of the Galaxy, namely Starblaster Showdown (76019), Knowhere Escape Mission (76020), and The Milano Spaceship Rescue (76021). If you are into the minifigure collection scene, you are probably aware that all the members of GOTG were all given the LEGO minifig treatment, save for one: our less verbose, towering powerhouse of a plant life, Groot. Though we have him rendered in a Constraction-like build in the Knowhere Escape Mission 76020, we yet to see the gentle brute in his minifig or bigfig form.
Now a recent report coming from Comicbook.com reveals that Marvel top execs are already giving a hint on who will be placed in the character spotlight in relation to GOTG Vol. 2. Paul Gitter, Senior VP of licensing for Marvel at Disney Consumer Products, told Variety.com about the latest wave of products that fans should expect from GOTG. Speaking about the Guardians’ attractive appeal to the general public, Gitter says, “It will be a much broader line [than 2014] expanding beyond collectors to include kids and male/female fans of the film. Also, as it is now a proven franchise with appealing characters, licensees will invest more in design and innovation. Finally, there will be a much stronger focus on Groot, who proved to be the breakout character from the first film.”
Straight from the horse’s mouth, we can expect more exposure and merchandising for the Guardian’s MVP and ancient tree. Further commenting on Groot’s knock-out appeal, Gitter says, “Our key learning is that we had to chase products featuring Groot and we want to be sure we are ready for the excitement across multiple age and demo segments who want to bring home Groot in a variety of innovative products.”
What can we expect from LEGO in connection with this announcement from Disney and Marvel? Probably a lot. Comicbook also noted that Marvel will be particularly keen on showcasing its merchandise in the upcoming 2016 Licensing Expo to be held in Las Vegas next week from June 21 to 23, and big toy companies such as Hasbro, LB Kids, Funko, and of course, LEGO, will be joining. Given Marvel’s priority on levering the character of Groot, it is kind of exciting to consider what LEGO has in the works and how the 80s music-loving, dancing tree will be featured in them. Perhaps we will see a bigfig or a minifigure version of Groot, or perhaps his own buildable figure. These are all possibilities that are likely to happen.
So what do you think about this news? Are you also excited to see Groot once again and perhaps to see him get the LEGO minifigure/bigfig treatment? Tell us what you think in the comments below.