Today, the LEGO Group officially revealed the upcoming #21370 LEGO Ideas E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial set. The project was originally submitted by LEGO fan lafabrick, reached the required 10,000 supporter votes on LEGO Ideas, and was ultimately selected by the LEGO Group to become an official LEGO set.
The finished model captures the wrinkles, expressive eyes, and unmistakable charm of one of the most beloved aliens in science fiction. While primarily designed as a display piece, the model includes several points of articulation. E.T.’s head can tilt up and down and rotate a full 360 degrees, and his famous glowing fingertip can be posed to recreate his iconic desire to “phone home”. The set also includes a light brick that illuminates E.T.’s heart, along with the pot of flowers he famously brought back to life in the original film. Altogether, the model consists of 1,226 pieces.
The #21370 LEGO Ideas E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial set is already available for pre-order and will begin shipping on August 1st. The retail price is $139.99 USD / €129.99 / £119.99. For additional information or to reserve your copy, visit the LEGO Ideas section of the Online LEGO Shop.
It seems that LEGO has been placing an increasing emphasis on brick-built character sculptures over the past few years. Recent releases include the #21368 LEGO Ideas Peanuts Snoopy’s Doghouse, the #21361 LEGO Ideas Gremlins Gizmo, the #72423 LEGO Icons Shrek, Donkey & Puss in Boots, the #75446 LEGO Star Wars Grogu, the #76341 LEGO Marvel Ravager Jumpsuit Groot, the #76461 LEGO Harry Potter Cornish Pixie, and several others. These display-oriented models appear to appeal to both longtime fans looking for a nostalgic connection and collectors who enjoy showcasing their favorite characters.
Of course, translating well-known characters into LEGO form is never easy. Some models capture the personality and likeness of the original remarkably well, while others inevitably venture a bit into the “uncanny valley” because of the limitations of the brick. Blocky shapes, simplified facial features, and visible joints can be difficult to disguise. Since these sets are primarily intended as display pieces, they may not appeal as much to builders who enjoy highly interactive models or extensive play features. On the other hand, they often showcase clever building techniques, inventive parts usage, and creative solutions for recreating organic shapes with LEGO elements.
What do you think? How do you like E.T. in LEGO form? And what are your thoughts on the growing collection of brick-built character sculptures? Feel free to share your opinions and join the discussion in the comment section below!
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That’s gonna be a no from me. I love the movie, but not everything is meant to be made out of Lego. It doesn’t look good. Sorry.
I think the problem with E.T. is that he isn’t good looking to begin with. Unlike Gizmo, for example, or Snoopy that are both “cute”. Adding to this the blockiness of Lego, and you won’t have the most winning result. I agree with yoladiel, not everything has to be made into a Lego set.
The movie still has a big fanbase, though.
One of my old friends/ acquaintances has E.T. as a favorite movie, and he took a long break from Lego until they made their first X-Wing. I can see him buying this set.