LEGO teases upcoming R2-D2

I'm excited , it should look good.

If they would mold a custom printed dome, I would buy it.

(I know, it's Lego, so blocks, but still...)

I have the old one so I may or may not get it, depending on how different it is. I'm big into Lego Star Wars but didn't get the Final Duel rerelease for instance. Happy for people that didn't get the original though as they appear quite similar.

Has anyone compared the size of this one to the old one? Like, is it going to be about the same? I’m just wondering so that I can figure out if I’ll be able to afford it.

@dylanmitchell said:
"I have the original R2D2 and from this image I see no real point in LEGO releasing a new one. "

I agree! If it was a cool new design, or another R2 type astro mec droid that would have been cool, but to re-release the old one. I got that one already, unless there is something amazingly different to this one. Pass...

Terrible, it looks like they made it out of bricks! ;)

That’s a real gaffe. I love the original ucs R2-the blockiness is part of the charm and what makes it Lego. This looks worse

I have a feeling this is not gonna be the real set, lego really loves studs on all sides...

Or this could just be something that a designer made for their own purposes ages ago and just liked to keep under the table in the office.

There would be a certain amount of joy if that turned out to be the case and all the people who have been blowing their gaskets about the design not being what they wanted have to come to a gasping halt :-)

Not to say that I wouldn't want a decent R2-D2 set, one happy day.

@mkrey:
They did that years ago for the Technic R2, but then they only gave you two quarters of his head.

Not sure why they decided to make yet another R2D2 instead of numerous other never-released before models. Maybe someone would be interested but certainly not my cup of tea.

@mkrey said:
"If they would mold a custom printed dome, I would buy it.

(I know, it's Lego, so blocks, but still...)
"

Lego did way back in 1999 see 9748
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=51ps1&idColor=67T=P&C=67
https://www.bricklink.com/v2/catalog/catalogitem.page?P=51ps2&idColor=67T=P&C=67

I would like to see more original sets coming out (like the Imperial Probe Droid). Continuously rehashing sets instead of creating new sets is disappointing.

I don’t know if this is considered taboo or not, but my take on some of these designs as a non-lifelong fan of LEGO is that I would like to see more parts created when certain things decide to get built. Like a third-legged astromech body, or an astromech body/dome that swivels, larger circular and rounded shapes to build consistent TIE Fighter cockpits, etc.

You know you’re going to be able to amortize the tooling cost of the parts over a whole bunch of different SKU within the theme and then it will branch out to the others as most parts seem to...so overall it isn’t a big expense for a profitable company.

Darth Vader’s helmet could have benefited from that design/production directive. That helmet needs that shiny overall feel to the top or you lose a LOT in the aesthetic. Obviously someone at LEGO has that in their head...compare Vader to Iron Man. Visually I get it they are different shapes, but there should be a standard...

A: If you can’t make adult-themed product look aesthetically on point with set goal (Vadey helmet look smoothish) with current parts inventory,

THEN...

B) create new parts that will accomplish aesthetic
OR
C) do not make as product at this time

This opinion of mine a LOT to this Artoo dome we see here. Personally I don’t dig the stud on top look of the previous one. That’s the classic LEGO look though so I also understand there’s a feel and a desire for that tradition.

But if that’s not the goal, if the goal is is instead smoother, dome-like...then apply above ABC...If you can’t A, reach design/product goal with existing parts (this fails) then B, create new parts that solve the problem (which they didn’t) or C, don’t do the product (which they hopefully did and that’s why they killed the video, though I would not count on it.)

Sorry so long.

It's an interesting trade-off. I think both the studded and non-studded versions are completely valid options for approximating R2-D2's dome head. The studded version probably has more mathematical and technical art than the non-studded version (the difficult task of approximating a 3D curved surface with rectangular bricks), but the non-studded version is also a lot smoother and a little easier to look at in my opinion.

I’m torn between I want this as a fan of the bb-8 set and d-o set but I’m afraid to pay 200

I scored the original r2-d2 at a yard sale for $7 and I am quite happy with it with no intentions to get another.

Absolutely! 10225 was one of the most fun & satisfying builds I’ve done. It was so enjoyable watching that little trash mouth take shape.

There are a fair few curves, but man this looks great! I’ve tried, unsuccessfully, to build the original through Bricklink, but this should make up for it.

I don’t know what you are all complaining about - I have the original R2-D2, and this new one looks perfectly good and acceptable to me!
And it allows others who don’t have the old one to acquire one at a much more reasonable price (one hopes!)

@vader11 said:
"Not sure why they decided to make yet another R2D2 instead of numerous other never-released before models. Maybe someone would be interested but certainly not my cup of tea."

None of us are privvy to the internal machinations of the Lego product development team but I would imagine that the market research they conducted came to the conclusion of making an updated UCS R2-D2 over other possible sets for a lots of reasons.

I'm a massive SW fan and I'd dearly love to see some obscure deep cuts released as expensive sets, but unfortunately it doesn't seem like they would be a viable product for Lego to produce. Artoo is a hugely popular character so making a big model of the cute little garbage can will always be a winner, and I think it may be in-line with Lego's noted habit of maintaining a supply of 'evergreen' sets; they will always have a police station, a fire station, or a hospital in the City range, they will always have a new X-Wing in the SW range, and they will always have a big crane or supercar in the Technic range.

Let us imagine if they did make something less well-known than R2-D2, and let's imagine it was as simple as making a different astromech droid: essentially the exact same pile of bricks but in different colours. If you have a big box with a picture of Artoo on the shelf the average consumer (and there are far more of these people than there are of people like you and me) is going to know exactly what it is right away and there will be no confusion about what the product is, what it stands for, and the potential value of owning a thing like this.

However if the box has a picture of a different astromech, what extra steps would be needed for the average consumer to come to the same understanding? 99% of the time they will only see it in a toy catalogue or in a shop, and there is little opportunity to educate someone about what it is. Yes, it is Lego, yes it is Star Wars, but what is this object that looks vaguely familiar but isn't that one cute beepy trash can that everyone knows about? And why would they pay $200 (or more) for that?

Lego has been around for more than half a century and it is one of the most carefully and competently managed brands in the world. They know their markets, they know their risks. They also know the easiest way to rake in the dollars, and I'll bet the conclusion of the market research included an assessment of how easy it will be to sell lots of these weighed up against the risk of making something that a thinner slice of the market will want to buy.

I missed out on the original, so I would be happy to see a new release!

I have the original and I love it, however, I can in all honesty say, one can never have enough R2D2's, so yes please, bring on a new one !

@blogzilly:
For a minifig R2 unit, a Technic half-pin and a cheese wedge are all you need to approximate a third leg. Yeah, the outer legs aren’t angled like they should be, but the geometry works out surprisingly well.

@Rare_White_Ape:
Police and Fire, sure. Hospitals, on the other hand, come rarely enough these days that the gaps between them last longer than the sets do. Well, unless it’s located in Heartlake.

I like the probe droid.

I like it and look forward to adding it to the collection!

@dylanmitchell said:
"I have the original R2D2 and from this image I see no real point in LEGO releasing a new one. "

Well how nice for you…… how about the point is so people who do NOT have the original can have a chance at owning a Lego R2-D2?

If any of you have seen Mandr’s Summer 2021 rumor video...this was rumored in it so maybe the rest are true too?!

Of course all the selfish AFOLs are out in full force complaining about rereleases, as usual. 10225 is one of my favourite sets, one of the only ones in my collection that has remained built since I got it and arguably one of the best LEGO sets of all time... everybody who wants it deserves a chance to get it. This new model will only be an improvement over the original, the studs on the head were the biggest criticism back in 2012 and that’s been rectified. Very keen to see the rest of the model even if I won’t be getting it, I’m perfectly happy with 10225.

Closer inspection of the photo shows that the head is almost the exact same design as the previous one, all the blue markings are in the same place as before and the build mostly uses the same parts except where it has been rounded off or older parts have been replaced with newer ones. We already know that the final piece count of the model is the same as 10225, so I doubt the rest of the design has changed much. I’m betting we’re about to see an update akin to 75192 vs 10179 where the design hardly changes, as opposed to 75252 vs 10030 where it was basically rebuilt from the ground up.

The head looks interesting. It doesn't look as rounded since it is flat on the sides though...

I was able to build the whole UCS set with spare parts minus about $10 (that included shipping). The only swap was the reddish brown hoses into a silver metallic because I was not about to pay $25/each for 4 hoses.

With that said, if the new model looks good, I may consider buying it. Although I was not impressed with how fiddly the UCS set was (looking at you third leg). I'm glad I never paid $180 for it.

@Bison_Bricks said:
"When are they going to reveal the UCS Salacious B. Crumb???"

According to my sources:

2022: UCS Jedi Bob
2023: UCS Salacious B. Crumb

But then save up your money, because in 2024 we get the Ultimate UCS set, the much anticipated Willrow Hood with Camtono filled with cookie dough ice cream. The gift with purchase will be a brick built pint of Ben & Jerry’s Baby Yoda Food (pistachio ice cream with bits of bone).

I’ve never been interested in these display only sets. However I assume that being a UCS set this will be significantly larger than the BB-8 and D-O sets. To me it would be logical to have all the droids built on the same scale (along with Yoda who is astromech sized).

Anyways, I’m always happy to see rereleased sets even if they aren’t ones I’m interested in as it gives hope to them rereleasing sets that I want. I understand the complaint about not introducing a C-3PO set, and it is a very valid one. However not everyone was buying Lego when some sets were originally released, yet many are still interested in obtaining those sets. The goal of Lego should not be to make investors and speculators rich, but to give Lego fans access to the sets they want. I won’t be buying this set, but I’m glad it will be available.

On a side note, I got my son the Boost Droids set, and I have to say that the R2 in that set looks much better. I also would be much more interested in purchasing brick built characters at that scale so you can actually play with them.

@alfred_the_buttler:
When they're designing a new UCS or sculpture set, they often pick the scale based on how a particular element works as part of the design. Note that very few UCS vehicles are actually matched in scale.

Everyone needs to stop saying UCS, these are not UCS sets, the original 10225 set was not UCS and this one likely will not be. Just like the helmets, the probe droid, Yoda, The Child all NOT UCS!

UCS, not UCS. Potato, potahto.

@nvbrit

"Ultimate Collector Series R2-D2™!"

^ That's the very first bullet point on the Retired Product page. Just a shot in the dark, but maybe The LEGO Company considers 10225 to be part of the UCS product line.

@Antoine_23 said:
" @fakespacesquid said:
" @Lordmoral said:
"I love these display pieces as much as the next guy but where are the play sets?"

Well there's 75295 or 75297 or 75298 or 75299 or 75300 or 75301 or 75302

And that's just from the last three months!"

I think he meant the « bigger » playsets "

Right, because everyone was head-over-heels with 75098. More people are just contrarian, they only want whatever isn't coming out. When that comes out, they switch to wanting something else.

@dylanmitchell said:
"I have the original R2D2 and from this image I see no real point in LEGO releasing a new one. "
What is the original R2D2? Is the original R2D2 the coding one???? I think it is. Tell me if I’m wrong.

@Unicocat:
There have been four large R2-D2 sets prior to this. The first was 9748, released in 1999 as a tie-in to the Mindstorms line, and the first of I think only two sets with the Micro Scout programmable brick (9754 was the other). 8009 was probably the smallest (just a very basic Technic character build with no automation), and released in 2002. 10225 was the largest, in 2012, officially as part of the UCS line. Lastly there was 75253 in 2019, as a Boost tie-in. The R2 build in this set looks similar in size to the little Technic version, but since the set also builds two other droid bodies, and has multiple electronic parts, it’s definitely more expensive with a larger piece count. I expect it’s the UCS version that’s being referred to as “first”, since the bit we see in the video looks like the spiritual successor to that one, whether or not it retains the UCS branding.

@fakespacesquid said:
" @Lordmoral said:
"I love these display pieces as much as the next guy but where are the play sets?"

Well there's 75295 or 75297 or 75298 or 75299 or 75300 or 75301 or 75302

And that's just from the last three months!"

Like a few on this thread, i’m not sure the head on the new leaked R2 constructed from snot/arches is an improvement over the 10225 original, the studs on the original deffo help give it more of a dome feel - but certainly not a deal breaker.
Overall I’m hoping the build is sufficiently different and R2s accessories and probes are improved from the original, to help me justify the purchase