With a LEGO The Lord of the Rings Shire rumoured to be on the way, we've been looking at other sets that could offer an idea of how a brick-built Bag End might work.
The latest rumours reported via a cryptic Instagram Story from previously reliable source tandnbricks suggest that the next LEGO The Lord of the Rings set could visit the hills and holes of the Shire. There are no further details other than that, meaning we have naturally shot straight into speculation overdrive about how a LEGO Shire could work.
Looking at different approaches to locations taken by the LEGO Group in the past, we've mapped out some different versions that would suit the Shire well.
LEGO 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell
One path that a brick-built Shire could take is similar to its predecessor, 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell. This model would encompass more than just Bag End and depict the rolling hills of the Shire. While the interior of Bag End would likely be the most detailed, it could also recreate the winding paths and other people's front doors, as well as the Green Dragon and the space where Bilbo's infamous birthday party was held.
Adopting a similar style as Rivendell would mean the two sets would pair quite nicely together and lays the ground for a pattern in LEGO The Lord of the Rings sets, alternating between wider scenery-focused sets between the Shire and Rivendell and taller builds with 10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr and the theorised and much-hoped-for LEGO Minas Tirith. Of course, that's a lot of speculation – but it would make sense.
LEGO Harry Potter 76419 Hogwarts Castle & Grounds
If the LEGO designers wanted to zoom out and take a whole new take on LEGO The Lord of the Rings, the Shire could also be similar to 76419 Hogwarts Castle & Grounds. Rather than adopting minifigure-scale, it recreates scenes from the movies in microscale form. While the focus is on the castle exterior, the back reveals peeks into the interior of the castle dungeons, which could work the same way for the Shire, offering looks into hobbit holes.
This approach would mean that the Shire wouldn't fit in as well when displayed next to 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell and 10333 The Lord of the Rings: Barad-dûr, with it not being minifigure scale, but it would be an interesting new design approach.
LEGO Icons 10332 Medieval Town Square
Another format could be a smaller version of 10316 The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell, as seen in 10332 Medieval Town Square. This would offer a similar level of detail given but just to a couple of buildings, without a base that brings everything altogether. In the case of the Shire, the obvious contenders for these buildings would likely be Bag End and the Green Dragon, with plenty of room for accessories and details for fans to love – but hopefully a more accessible price point than the other LEGO The Lord of the Rings sets.
LEGO Disney 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' Cottage
The LEGO Disney designers experimented with hinges in 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs' Cottage. If LEGO The Lord of the Rings followed in its footsteps, it could be a fun way to depict Bag End, with enough room to offer detail on both the interior and the exterior. Fans are already opening that the Shire could be a means of getting a more play-focused set and the hinge would open up the interior of Bag End for interactivity and play functions.
LEGO Harry Potter 76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank Collectors’ Edition
A hobbit hole is, as the name would suggest, at least partly underground, so a LEGO Shire could also take a brick out of 76417 Gringotts Wizarding Bank Collectors’ Edition's book with the upstairs-downstairs look. Of course, it wouldn't need to be quite as dramatic as Gringotts, with Bag End's being more nestled into a hill rather than plumbing deep under the ground through tunnels.
We're picturing more like a dome that boasts the grassy roof and iconic door, while the underside is only visible from the back and peeks inside the cosy rooms, from Bilbo's living room where he writes his book and the kitchen and food stores that get raided by the dwarves in The Hobbit.
LEGO Ideas 21338 A-Frame Cabin
Last but not least comes a set that has a similar vibe to the Shire: 21338 A-Frame Cabin. In all its autumnal cosiness, adopting a similar build where you can lift away the grassy dome of Bag End to reveal the rooms within would once again be a clever way to pay homage to both the interior and the exterior with similar levels of detail.
Of course, we won't know for sure what to expect from a LEGO Shire or even if it's on the way at all until we get official confirmation from the LEGO Group so take our ideas with a hefty pinch of salt for now.
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