LEGO Harry Potter’s new Bellatrix minifigure still can’t compare to the 2010 version

This summer’s LEGO Harry Potter line-up includes a brand new Bellatrix Lestrange – but while it improves on the previous minifigure, it still can’t compare to the original 2010 version.

Arriving in the latest addition to the wider Hogwarts line-up, 76415 The Battle of Hogwarts, the new Bellatrix Lestrange minifigure builds on the previous version in 2020’s 75980 Attack on the Burrow, adding dual-moulded arms into the mix. These are a much closer approximation of the character’s outfit in the movies, with torn sleeves exposing her shoulders.

Yes, colour-swapping the entire upper arm might be a bit much, but it’s still a more detailed recreation of the source material than the all-black arms of the last Bellatrix minifigure. Which is great! You know what’s less great? The rest of the minifigure failing to improve likewise.

Time has apparently stood still for Bellatrix’s head and dress pieces, both of which remain unchanged from 75980 Attack on the Burrow. For her head, that means the same cartoonish – and perhaps not so appropriate – expression we’ve had since 2020. Her dress, meanwhile, is still plain. Compare it with Molly Weasley’s new printed dress element in 76415 The Battle of Hogwarts, and it’s just a bit jarring.

You can also compare this version of Bellatrix with the very first minifigure of the same character, all the way back in 2010’s 4840 The Burrow, which holds up surprisingly well 13 years later. It shares the same character-specific hairpiece (and you won’t find any complaints there), and also manages to include a fully-printed dress – and more fitting facial expressions, especially for the scene depicted in 76415 The Battle of Hogwarts.

So for the ultimate Bellatrix Lestrange minifigure in 2023, you might be best combining the new version in 76415 The Battle of Hogwarts with the classic iteration from 2010. The printing of the new torso won’t quite match up with the printed dress piece, so your best bet will probably be taking the new dual-moulded arms and adding them to the rest of the original minifigure.

The good news is that retro Bellatrix doesn’t command quite so astronomical prices on BrickLink as she once did, presumably because we’ve had these newer iterations since. At the moment, you can pick her up for as little as £13 used (before shipping). 76415 The Battle of Hogwarts launches June 1 for €84.99. We’ll hopefully find out the UK and US prices very soon.

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