Lego Indiana Jones
Lego Indiana Jones is a Lego theme based on the Indiana Jones film franchise created by George Lucas, licensed from Lucasfilm. The exclusive franchise 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. 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.
The theme was relaunched in 2023 with three sets based on Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. It was discontinued at the end of 2024.
Overview
Lego Indiana Jones is based on the Indiana Jones film franchise. The product line focuses on Indiana Jones, a globe-trotting archaeologist, vying with Nazi forces in 1936, to recover the long-lost Ark of the Covenant, a relic said to make an army invincible. Teaming up with his tough former lover Marion Ravenwood, Jones races to stop rival archaeologist Dr. René Belloq from guiding the Nazis to the Ark and its power.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 was a cause of some internal controversy.Characters
Indiana Jones: An archaeology professor and adventurer.Marion Ravenwood: A spirited, tough bar owner and Jones' former lover.René Belloq: A rival archaeologist to Jones, in the employ of the Nazis.Willie Scott: An American nightclub singer working in Shanghai. In a nod to the Star Wars franchise, the nightclub is called Club Obi Wan. Willie is unprepared for her adventure with Indy and Short Round, and appears to be a damsel in distress. She also forms a romantic relationship with Indy.Mola Ram: A Thuggee priest who performs rites of human sacrifices. The character is named after a 17th-century Indian painter.Short Round: Indy's 11-year-old Chinese sidekick, who drives the 1936 Auburn Boat Tail Speedster which allows Indy to escape during the opening sequence.Henry Jones, Sr.: Indiana's father, a professor of Medieval literature who cared more about looking for the Grail than raising his son.Elsa Schneider: An Austrian art professor who is in league with the Nazis. She seduces the Joneses to trick them but seems to be in love with Indy.Irina Spalko: A villainous Soviet agent.Mutt Williams: a young, motorcycle-riding greaser and Indiana's sidekick and son.Construction sets
According to BrickLink, The Lego Group released a total of 22 Lego sets and promotional polybags as part of Lego Indiana Jones theme. The product line was eventually discontinued by the end of 2009.The initial wave of sets was released in 2008, Temple Escape was one of the biggest, and features the famous boulder chase scene from the opening sequence of Raiders of the Lost Ark. 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.
Two other medium-size sets released at the same time also featured scenes from the Lost Ark film. The Lost Tomb depicted a snake-filled tomb, which Indy must escape from, and Race for the Stolen Treasure 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 Kingdom of the Crystal Skull , 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, Irina Spalko and two Ugha Warriors 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 , included new narrower gauge 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 , 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.
In March 2023, three sets were announced to be released on 1 April 2023. The three sets are Fighter Plane Chase , Escape from the Lost Tomb and Temple of the Golden Idol . A fourth set, The Temple of Doom has been cancelled.