PSA: LEGO Disney sets based on live-action films aren’t coming anytime soon

Even in the era of the live-action remake, LEGO Disney sets tend to focus on the animated versions of characters – and that’s not set to change.

It’s been 87 years since the first release of Snow White in 1937, meaning the upcoming release of 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage begs the question: why now? Seemingly, it was planned to release alongside the delayed live-action remake of Snow White, now pushed back until next year. However, the design of the minifigures and even the cottage itself is incredibly faithful to the animated film, rather than what we’ve seen of the live-action movie so far.

LEGO Disney designer Ryan Van Woerkem explained just why that it is – and why it’s not likely to change anytime soon, despite the number of live-action films that have come out and are set to release.

“Typically, the way it works on the LEGO Disney team is, if there is a live-action remake of a Disney film, we might release a set based on the classic that commemorates that character,” explained Ryan. “That’s been the strategy during the traditional development of the Disney Princess minidolls.

“We know that’s likely what the parents grew up with and probably the first version that the children saw as well. There have been some exceptions to that, such as 43225 The Little Mermaid Royal Clamshell, but with 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage, it was very important to us that we tied into the classic animation. That’s what the majority of generations are familiar with.”

Of course, that’s not to say that there’s nothing in 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage for people only just coming to the story of Snow White through the live-action film. However, it’s intentionally not the focus of the LEGO Disney set.

“If someone happens to see the live-action and loves it without seeing the animation, 43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage would still be recognisable to them,” continued Ryan. “But especially for those of us who are super nostalgic about the classic film, that’s the main icon we’re trying to hit.”

Of course, nothing is set in stone. Ryan is keen to incorporate what LEGO Disney fans want into future sets as far as possible and wants you to know how to go about letting your opinions be heard.

“There are people who look through comments of what fans want – and those people are me,” said Ryan. “If you have feedback of things you want to say, the way that it’s supposed to come is through the little surveys at the back of your building instructions, where you put in what you thought about the set that you just built and other sets that you might like to see in the future.

“We as the LEGO Disney team pay a lot of attention to that and try to look at what is coming up the most salient sets that people want to see.”

43242 Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ Cottage launches on March 1 for LEGO Insiders, before receiving a wider launch on March 4. You can expect to find it on shelves and online for £189.99 in the UK, $219.99 in the US and €219.99 in Europe.

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