Lego Indiana Jones
Encyclopedia
Lego Indiana Jones is a Lego
theme based on the Indiana Jones film franchise, licensed from Lucasfilm
. The exclusive franchise (for the 'Construction Category Rights') was first announced in June 2007, and followed the successful Lego Star Wars
franchise, also with Lucasfilm. The first set of products were launched in 2008, based upon two of the three earlier films (Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade). Sets featuring scenes from the fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, were released alongside the film, later in 2008. The Temple of Doom film was not featured until 2009, in a large set which re-created the mine-cart chase using new narrow-gauge Lego train track.
The theme also features in a video game series. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
was released on June 3, 2008, based on the original trilogy. A sequel, called Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
, was released in November 2009, including scenes from the new Kingdom of the Crystal Skull film, along with a level editor feature.
A computer-animated short film series called Lego Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick
, directed by Peder Pedersen, was also released on the official Lego site. It combines details from all four Indiana Jones films in one adventure.
. Measuring 53 cm long, the set included numerous 'booby traps' from the film, including shooting spears and tumbling rocks. As well as Indiana Jones himself, the set included minifigs of René Belloq and Satipo. Pilot Jock and his seaplane were also included as a late addition, with the Lego designer and Lucasfilm agreeing that they were an important addition to complete the scene (allowing Indy to escape).
Two other medium-size sets released at the same time also featured scenes from the Lost Ark film. The Lost Tomb (7621) depicted a snake-filled tomb, which Indy must escape from, and Race for the Stolen Treasure (7622) depicted the chase scene from the film, with Indy riding a horse in pursuit of a truck.
Later in 2008, four sets were released featuring scenes from the new film. The biggest of these was Temple of the Crystal Skull (7627), which focused on the final scene of the movie, and included a rotating circle of 'crystal skeletons', as well as the falling obelisk tower. The characters Mutt Williams, Irna Spalko and an Ugha Warrior were all included in minifig form, as well as Indy and an unnamed Russian soldier.
In 2009, the 'gap' of having no sets from The Temple of Doom
was filled with two new sets featuring scenes from the film. The biggest of the two, The Temple of Doom (7199), included new narrower gauge (4-studs wide rather than the usual 6 studs) Lego train tracks in order to re-create the mine cart chase scene from the second half of the film. Six track piece were included in two shapes, four as curves and two as slopes. Straight track pieces for this new type of train track have not yet been released in any set.
The second-biggest set released in 2009 was Venice Canal Chase (7197), which depicts the boat chase scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
. The set includes two boats, one driven by Indy and Elsa Schneider, and the other driven by two Grail Guardians. The boats appear largely identical bar a few colour differences, but contain different button-activated actions - one boats splits in two when a button is pressed, the other one features an 'exploding' motor. The two Grail Guardian minifigs are notable for their dark red Fez hats, which is a new Lego element. The set also features a Venetian style bridge and an exploding pier.
, of boosting the Lego Group's profits within a stagnant toy market. The product line was said to have "sold extremely well - especially on the North American market."
However some critics did not like how Lego choose to discontinue their adventure series. A series that was basically an entire parody of Indiana Jones (though the theme was discontinued long before Lucasfilm and Lego made a deal to make the Indiana Jones theme).
Lego
Lego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
theme based on the Indiana Jones film franchise, licensed from Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm
Lucasfilm Limited is an American film production company founded by George Lucas in 1971, based in San Francisco, California. Lucas is the company's current chairman and CEO, and Micheline Chau is the president and COO....
. The exclusive franchise (for the 'Construction Category Rights') was first announced in June 2007, and followed the successful Lego Star Wars
Lego Star Wars
Lego Star Wars is a Lego theme that incorporates the Star Wars saga. The first Lego Star Wars, released in 1999, included model 7140, the first Lego X-Wing. Star Wars was the first intellectual property to be licensed in Lego Group history . The first few sets based on the original trilogy were...
franchise, also with Lucasfilm. The first set of products were launched in 2008, based upon two of the three earlier films (Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade). Sets featuring scenes from the fourth film, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, were released alongside the film, later in 2008. The Temple of Doom film was not featured until 2009, in a large set which re-created the mine-cart chase using new narrow-gauge Lego train track.
The theme also features in a video game series. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures
Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures is a 2008 video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by LucasArts. The game allows players to recreate moments from the first three Indiana Jones films: Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the...
was released on June 3, 2008, based on the original trilogy. A sequel, called Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues
Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is a 2009 video game developed by Traveller's Tales and published by LucasArts. It is the sequel to the 2008 game, Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures...
, was released in November 2009, including scenes from the new Kingdom of the Crystal Skull film, along with a level editor feature.
A computer-animated short film series called Lego Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick
Lego Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick
Lego Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Brick is a 3-D computer-animated Lego movie directed by Peder Pedersen. It combines details from all four Indiana Jones features into one continuous adventure with a humorous twist, and includes several inside-jokes for fans of both the Indiana Jones...
, directed by Peder Pedersen, was also released on the official Lego site. It combines details from all four Indiana Jones films in one adventure.
Development
The development of the Indiana Jones Lego theme followed a similar process to other Lego themes, with sets being designed by Lego's team of designers in Billund, in consultation with franchise owner Lucasfilm. The inclusion of guns within the sets (including machine guns) was a cause of some internal controversy.Sets
Of the initial wave of sets released in 2008, Temple Escape (7623) was one of the biggest, and features the famous boulder chase scene from the opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost ArkRaiders of the Lost Ark
Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise...
. Measuring 53 cm long, the set included numerous 'booby traps' from the film, including shooting spears and tumbling rocks. As well as Indiana Jones himself, the set included minifigs of René Belloq and Satipo. Pilot Jock and his seaplane were also included as a late addition, with the Lego designer and Lucasfilm agreeing that they were an important addition to complete the scene (allowing Indy to escape).
Two other medium-size sets released at the same time also featured scenes from the Lost Ark film. The Lost Tomb (7621) depicted a snake-filled tomb, which Indy must escape from, and Race for the Stolen Treasure (7622) depicted the chase scene from the film, with Indy riding a horse in pursuit of a truck.
Later in 2008, four sets were released featuring scenes from the new film. The biggest of these was Temple of the Crystal Skull (7627), which focused on the final scene of the movie, and included a rotating circle of 'crystal skeletons', as well as the falling obelisk tower. The characters Mutt Williams, Irna Spalko and an Ugha Warrior were all included in minifig form, as well as Indy and an unnamed Russian soldier.
In 2009, the 'gap' of having no sets from The Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark . After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by a desperate village to find a mystical stone...
was filled with two new sets featuring scenes from the film. The biggest of the two, The Temple of Doom (7199), included new narrower gauge (4-studs wide rather than the usual 6 studs) Lego train tracks in order to re-create the mine cart chase scene from the second half of the film. Six track piece were included in two shapes, four as curves and two as slopes. Straight track pieces for this new type of train track have not yet been released in any set.
The second-biggest set released in 2009 was Venice Canal Chase (7197), which depicts the boat chase scene from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, from a story co-written by executive producer George Lucas. It is the third film in the Indiana Jones franchise. Harrison Ford reprises the title role and Sean Connery plays Indiana's father, Henry...
. The set includes two boats, one driven by Indy and Elsa Schneider, and the other driven by two Grail Guardians. The boats appear largely identical bar a few colour differences, but contain different button-activated actions - one boats splits in two when a button is pressed, the other one features an 'exploding' motor. The two Grail Guardian minifigs are notable for their dark red Fez hats, which is a new Lego element. The set also features a Venetian style bridge and an exploding pier.
Products
see List of Lego Indiana Jones sets| Name | Number | Minifigures | Released | Film | Pieces |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Motorcycle Chase | 7620 | Indiana Jones Indiana Jones Colonel Henry Walton "Indiana" Jones, Jr., Ph.D. is a fictional character and the protagonist of the Indiana Jones franchise. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg created the character in homage to the action heroes of 1930s film serials... , Henry Jones, Sr. Henry Jones, Sr. Professor Henry Walton Jones, Sr. is a fictional character in the Indiana Jones franchise. He is the estranged father of Indiana Jones, who is captured by the Nazis while searching for the Holy Grail to act as bait for Indy.... , German Motorcycler |
2008 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade is a 1989 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, from a story co-written by executive producer George Lucas. It is the third film in the Indiana Jones franchise. Harrison Ford reprises the title role and Sean Connery plays Indiana's father, Henry... |
79 |
| The Lost Tomb | 7621 | Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood Marion Ravenwood Marion Ravenwood Jones is a fictional character that first appeared in the 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark. Played by Karen Allen, she enters the story when Indiana Jones visits her in Nepal, needing her help — specifically, he needs an artifact in her possession, originally obtained by her... , Skeleton Skeleton The skeleton is the body part that forms the supporting structure of an organism. There are two different skeletal types: the exoskeleton, which is the stable outer shell of an organism, and the endoskeleton, which forms the support structure inside the body.In a figurative sense, skeleton can... |
2008 | Raiders of the Lost Ark Raiders of the Lost Ark Raiders of the Lost Ark is a 1981 American action-adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, produced by George Lucas, and starring Harrison Ford. It is the first film in the Indiana Jones franchise... |
277 |
| Race for the Stolen Treasure | 7622 | Indiana Jones, German Guards (Three), Horse | 2008 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | 272 |
| Temple Escape | 7623 | Indiana Jones, Rene Belloq, Satipo, Jock, Skeleton (Two) | 2008 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | 552 |
| Jungle Duel | 7624 | Indiana Jones, Irina Spalko, Mutt Williams | 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 90 |
| River Chase | 7625 | Indiana Jones, Russian Guards (Two), Marion Ravenwood | 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 234 |
| Jungle Cutter | 7626 | Indiana Jones, Colonel Dovchenko, Russian Guards (Two) | 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 511 |
| Temple of the Crystal Skull | 7627 | Indiana Jones, Mutt Williams, Irina Spalko, Russian Guard, Ugha Warriors (two), Crystal Skull Skeletons (three), Conquistador Skeleton | 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 929 |
| Peril in Peru | 7628 | Indiana Jones, Mutt Williams, Irina Spalko, Russian Guard, Pilot, Colonel Dovchenko | 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 625 |
| Jungle Cruiser | 20004 | Indiana Jones (no bag) | 2008 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 83 |
| Shanghai Chase | 7682 | Indiana Jones (tuxedo), Willie Scott, Short Round, Lao Che, Kao Kan | 2009 | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom is a 1984 American adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg. It is the second film in the Indiana Jones franchise and prequel to Raiders of the Lost Ark . After arriving in India, Indiana Jones is asked by a desperate village to find a mystical stone... |
244 |
| Fight on the Flying Wing | 7683 | Indiana Jones, Marion Ravenwood, German Mechanic, German Pilot | 2009 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | 376 |
| Ambush in Cairo | 7195 | Indiana Jones (Cairo), Swordsman, Cairo Bandit, Marion Ravenwood | 2009 | Raiders of the Lost Ark | 79 |
| Chauchilla Cemetery Battle | 7196 | Indiana Jones, Mutt Williams, Cemetery Warriors (two) | 2009 | Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull | 189 |
| Venice Canal Chase | 7197 | Indiana Jones (professor), Elsa Schneider, Kazim, Brotherhood of the Cruciform Sword guard | 2009 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | 420 |
| Fighter Plane Attack | 7198 | Indiana Jones (no bag), Henry Jones Sr., German Pilot | 2009 | Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade | 339 |
| The Temple of Doom | 7199 | Indiana Jones (Kali), Willie Scott (Kali), Short Round, Thuggee, Chief Thugee, Mola Ram Mola Ram Mola Ram was an Indian painter, who originated the Garhwal branch of the Kangra school of painting. He was born in Srinagar , and worked for the Garhwal Kingdom from 1777 until its annexation in 1803. He was also a poet, historian and diplomat... |
2009 | Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom | 654 |
Future
The line was discontinued in 2010, but since Lucas plans to make a fifth installment to the franchise, the sets may be re-released along with new sets of the possible fifth Indiana Jones film.Reception
The Indiana Jones sets proved to be one of the most popular Lego themes, and by the end of 2008 were credited, along with Lego Star WarsLego Star Wars
Lego Star Wars is a Lego theme that incorporates the Star Wars saga. The first Lego Star Wars, released in 1999, included model 7140, the first Lego X-Wing. Star Wars was the first intellectual property to be licensed in Lego Group history . The first few sets based on the original trilogy were...
, of boosting the Lego Group's profits within a stagnant toy market. The product line was said to have "sold extremely well - especially on the North American market."
However some critics did not like how Lego choose to discontinue their adventure series. A series that was basically an entire parody of Indiana Jones (though the theme was discontinued long before Lucasfilm and Lego made a deal to make the Indiana Jones theme).