Leaked images appear to have revealed a massive new LEGO Death Star set with 9,023 pieces, reportedly priced at $1,000 and scheduled for release this October.
However, instead of a complete sphere, this version of the Death Star presents a cross-section view to highlight the Empire's ultimate command center, incorporating multiple rooms and hidden details.
Reactions to the half-sphere design (unlike previous Death Star models) have been mixed. Some fans appreciate the enhanced detail for the money, while others feel LEGO is shortchanging enthusiasts by offering only half the structure.
So what exactly does $1,000 get you? This extensive set includes over a dozen recognizable scenes from Star Wars, such as the throne room, Death Star laser control station, garbage compactor, shuttle bay, and the iconic area where Luke Skywalker swings across a chasm holding Princess Leia.
The docking bay comes with a full Lambda-class shuttle, while collectors will likely be drawn to the reported 32 minifigures included.
Reported characters in the set feature multiple versions of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, and Princess Leia, alongside Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Emperor Palpatine, Darth Vader, Rogue One's Director Orson Krennic and Galen Erso, Grand Moff Tarkin, Admiral Motti (the officer Force-choked in A New Hope), General Tagge, Colonel Wullf Yularen (a nod to Clone Wars fans), the insectoid protocol droid 5D6-RA-7, a Death Star Gunner, Imperial Royal Guard, Imperial Crew Member, Stormtroopers (including a Hot Tub Stormtrooper variant), and Imperial Dignitaries—purple-cloaked advisors featuring a new LEGO hat element.
Whether all this justifies the $1,000 price tag is a decision we leave to you. (Perhaps you might even consider buying two sets to complete the Death Star sphere?)
On its own, the new Death Star will rank as the fourth-largest LEGO set ever by piece count, trailing the 11,000-piece LEGO Art World Map, the LEGO Icons Eiffel Tower, and the LEGO Icons Titanic.
Three other LEGO Star Wars sets also feature among the company's largest, with the top 10 including the UCS LEGO Star Wars Millennium Falcon, LEGO Star Wars AT-AT, and LEGO Star Wars Razor Crest. Meanwhile, the LEGO Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle falls short with only 6,020 pieces.
LEGO has yet to officially announce the new Death Star set, but based on the leaks, an announcement seems imminent.