LEGO® Indiana Jones makes a triumphant return in April 2023! This is the second go-around for the theme. The original sets debuted in 2008 to support the fourth Indiana Jones film, Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. In total, the LEGO® Group offered 17 kits along with a San Diego Comic Con exclusive. While I missed those sets in my dark age, I did acquire Indiana Jones and the Lost Tomb in a bulk bin purchase. It is a fun theme for archaeology and Indy fans alike. Now, three new sets come to stores just ahead of the fifth film, the Dial of Destiny, in June 2023. Read on for set details!
FIGHTER PLAN CHASE
- SET #: 77012
- COST: $44.99 CAD ($34.99 USD)
- BRICK COUNT: 387
- MINIFIGURES: 3
- RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2023
- COST/BRICK: $0.116 (Very good value.)
- BRICKS/FIG: 129 (Very good fig count for a set this size.)
This set pulls inspiration from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Additionally, it is not dissimilar to the 2009 Fighter Plane Attack LEGO® set both in concept as well as brick count. We even see the same offering of characters with Indy, Professor Henry Jones Sr, and a pilot. Of course, we get a car and a plane instead of two planes. Interestingly enough, the newer version is cheaper than the original. While I don’t know the Canadian pricing, the 2009 set retailed for $49.99 in the United States, while this year’s offering will cost $34.99 USD.
ESCAPE FROM THE LOST TOMB
- SET #: 77013
- COST: $49.99 CAD ($39.99 USD)
- BRICK COUNT: 600
- MINIFIGURES: 4
- RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2023
- COST/BRICK: $0.083 (Excellent value.)
- BRICKS/FIG: 150 (Good fig count for a set this size.)
Here we see a throwback to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Additionally, the concept is familiar. In fact, this set represents an update to the one and only Indiana Jones set I built, the Lost Tomb. The older version was less costly, however it was also a much smaller set. Incidentally, the Lost Tomb came with only 277 bricks and two minifigs. While the characters are the same in the 2023 set, you also get quite a few more bricks and two additional Minifigures. On top of that, I am thrilled to see the Star Wars R2-D2 and C-3P0 hieroglyphics from the original made it into the updated version. I also love that mummy. I might have to get this set just for that Minifigure.
TEMPLE OF THE GOLDEN IDOL
- SET #: 77015
- COST: $199.99 CAD ($149.99 USD)
- BRICK COUNT: 1545
- MINIFIGURES: 4 + 1 skeleton
- RELEASE DATE: April 1, 2023
- COST/BRICK: $0.129 (Good value.)
- BRICKS/FIG: 309 (Very low fig count for a set this size.)
Temple of the Golden Idol represents another throwback to Raiders of the Lost Ark. Additionally, it is another update to an older set. In this case, we’re talking about 7623, Temple Escape. The update version looks wonderfully detailed. However, I can’t get past how few Minifigures the set includes. I wish we got more Hovitos Warriors, even if they all featured identical prints.
What does LEGO® Indiana Jones imply for LEGO® Lord of the Rings?
Interestingly, Temple of the Golden Idol comes in Icons-style packaging with an 18+ rating. However, the Icons logo is absent. Additionally, the set does not appear in the Icons section of the LEGO® website. This lends further credence to my Lord of the Rings theory. You might recall that the recent Rivendell set falls under the Icons umbrella, not the Lord of the Rings theme. I speculated that we might not see cheaper Lord of the Rings sets and a proper return to the theme. Given that Temple of the Golden Idol is 18+ but still falls into the Indiana Jones theme suggests similar plans for more budget friendly Lord of the Rings sets might not materialize. However, this remains pure speculation. Let’s hope I’m wrong.
If you pay attention to LEGO® leaks surfacing on the internet, you might be wondering: “is that it?” Sadly, the answer is yes. Many online sources reported a fourth LEGO® Indiana Jones set based on the Temple of Doom. In fact, you’ll note above that set 77014 is missing from this announcement. Presently, it seem as though the LEGO® Group has no plans to actually release the set depicted in leaked images. What do you think of the upcoming LEGO® Indiana Jones sets? Will you miss the Temple of Doom? Let me know in the comments or reach out on social media.
Until next time,
-Tom
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