The announcement came in the form of a short video shared on LEGO’s official Twitter page. The 30-second clip shows off some of the figure’s complex features, which according to the official LEGO website includes a “retractable mid-leg, rotating head, opening, and extendable front hatches, a periscope.” Best of all, it comes complete with Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber hidden away in a secret compartment in the model’s head.

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The R2-D2 set, which will go on sale for $199 USD, will feature 2,314 LEGO pieces and will stand a foot tall once complete. Of course, this is no match for the 7,541-piece Star Wars Millennium Falcon released in 2017. While this isn’t the first R2-D2 set released by the toy company, it will be the biggest one yet. Those who purchase the set will also receive an information plaque, similar to most of the build-to-display Star Wars LEGO models, an exclusive R2-D2 mini figure, and a special brick marking Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary. 

During their May the 4th celebration event, LEGO will be revealing more Star Wars products, but the spotlight is currently set on the R2-D2 kit. Apart from it, LEGO recently announced its Star Wars helmet collection as well, which will see the headgear of Darth Vader and Scout Trooper go on sale in just a few days. 

LEGO has released several Star Wars sets in the past, all of which are considered collector’s items among the many fans around the world. Be it the iconic Death Star, the BB-8, or Yoda, Star Wars fans seem to love them all, with many sharing images of their LEGO collections on social media over the years. The partnership between LEGO and Lucasfilm was finalized in 1998, giving the toy company the copyright to create multiple Star Wars sets. The first set released in 1999 was of the X-Wing Starfighter and since then, the collection has only grown.

Perhaps the new R2-D2 figure will renew interest in the beloved Star Wars droid. Both R2 and C-3PO were an important part of the original trilogy, but their roles were arguably diminished in the sequel trilogy.

The new Star Wars R2-D2 LEGO set goes on sale on May 1, 2021.

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Source: LEGO/Twitter