LEGO Project Hail Mary is IP collaboration done right
The LEGO Group has worked with dozens of IP partners over the years, but 11389 Project Hail Mary shows what real collaboration achieves.
As a theme, the LEGO Icons team doesn’t typically design sets based on unreleased films. It’s in the name, with the sets mostly focusing on icons from movies, books, and other franchises. However, 11389 Project Hail Mary is based on an upcoming movie, due for release three weeks after the set drops on March 1.
Although the book has been out since 2021, the visual inspiration and the focus of the movie played a big role in the development of the LEGO Icons set, as confirmed by the set’s designer, Nathan Heigert, while speaking to LEGO Fan Media.
“It wasn’t like we could just go back to the movie and decide on the moment and the vehicle that we should focus on,” Nathan explained. “We really did have to depend on what the IP partner was able to provide us with. When we worked with the filmmakers, they had such a great sense of what was important to the film.
“They could tell us that the rotation of the ship is going to be key to the film. We depended on them to inform us of those focuses of the story, like the meeting with Ryland and Rocky. To a much greater extent, we depended on a productive relationship with the filmmakers and, luckily, they were a pleasure to work with.”
A lot of trust and strong communication are required in such a relationship, when the final product relies on secondhand information. Thankfully, Nathan had only good things to say about the Project Hail Mary team.
“They were super helpful and nice,” Nathan continued. “They knew their stuff, but were also deferential to us in saying: ‘You guys are the experts in the construction, so we trust your recommendations.’ We tried to implement as many of the ideas that they had that would benefit the set.”
Although the film isn’t out yet, book readers have already been largely positive about the model.
“I need this immediately,” wrote one redditor. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been this excited for a film.”
Indeed, 11389 Project Hail Mary technically spoils one of many plot twists for those who haven’t read the book yet (which we won’t spoil any further here), underlining the insights that the LEGO Icons team have had into the plot and characters.
It’s a marked difference from, as one example, the most recently revealed wave of LEGO Star Wars sets based on The Mandalorian & Grogu. Disney is staying closed-lipped on the plot and even many clear details around the antagonist of the upcoming Star Wars movie, a decision that means the sets revealed ahead of the film’s release end up feeling rather two-dimensional.
There are no named villain minifigures, few exciting new vehicles, and the focus of the sets sticks to ships and characters that we’ve seen time and time again. 11389 Project Hail Mary and its reception, on the other hand, are signs of the quality of builds that come about when the LEGO Group gets more details from their various IP partners.
LEGO Icons 11389 Project Hail Mary is available to pre-order now for £99.99 in the UK, $99.99 in the US, and €109.99 in Europe ahead of its release on March 1.
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