Questions for Asmus

[RandomHero]

I'm not opposed to armored Eowyn being reissued, but those of us who already have all the figures and even the weta versions might get tired if they only release reissues. I want an Eowyn with her white dress, but I wouldn't buy an armored Eowyn a third time (I already have a statue and an action figure). Same with Witch King or Fellowship Boromir, Ranger Aragorn... I understand that there are people who want to have the opportunity again, but if we only receive reissues of all the old figures, those of us who already have them will lose interest in this line. There should be a balance between reissues and new versions of those characters. For example, the nazgul is the first time I haven't pre-ordered a figure from this line. I already have the ACI and the previous one from asmus and a couple of weta, my money that could have been for that figure has gone elsewhere. And I have no faith in the promises of new heads to update old figures for those of us who already have them... You all already know.

I agree with this. That's why when I start these power threads to try and centralize the push for specific new figures from Asmus, I'm going to bounce around a bit.

I started with Haldir and the Galadhrim. They would be entirely new. Sounds like they're coming.

I'm going to turn our attention to Eowyn next. Why? Yes, they already made her, but that sculpt needs an upgrade and I'm sure they can tweak the armor and make it better in a second run. The upgrades make it worthwhile.

We'll need something new again after that. Maybe it's Gil-Galad. Maybe it's Isildur. Maybe it's Denethor or Wormtongue. Maybe we push for a good guy and a bad guy. But we need new figures to keep this line fresh and exciting.

Those figures would all be new or feel new, and that will help the long term collectors stay engaged. Balance will be important.

 

[EMG1986]

I would want to see a Gamling figure. We have the King why not include his Guard?

 

[George13]

Just relax my Friends, it’s a wishlist so it doesn’t mean we are going to see all these figures.
That’s why it’s called wishlist

 

[Someperson]

Just relax my Friends, it’s a wishlist so it doesn’t mean we are going to see all these figures.
That’s why it’s called wishlist

I am certain they said Sauron will be made but they aren’t sure exactly when he will be scheduled yet ?

 

[George13]

I am certain they said Sauron will be made but they aren’t sure exactly when he will be scheduled yet ?

I haven’t heard anything regarding Sauron
I hope they make it

 

[Bucky Underbelly]

Yeah, they've mentioned wanting to do him a few times over the years. Not sure if he's still in their plans, but I would LOVE it. I've got tons of other Saurons in my collection (including Sideshow's GIANT Premium Format statue) but as far as I'm concerned, you can never have enough of that big bastard! Plus, I bet he wouldn't be impossible to produce. There are existing quarter scale bodies out there that would be about the right size ...

 

[mitraheroe]

Okay - for me this is the wishlist - I put in far too much thought so I hope your listening @AD Artwork @inyacher @Asmus

- Eowyn in armor makes most sense for who should be next
- Then Witch King - selling the two in close proximity to the other will drive up sales for both - people want that "I'm no man!" scene. Plus it won't need too much adding to the new Nazgul 2.0 to achieve, so fairly easy production wise.
- Thranduil in Throne with berry crown costume - yes I will never stop fighting for it, I was given a taste and I want more - I need more elven rulers looking fabulous. Plus this is one of the only Hobbit characters I've seen a fair few people request in the comments (other than maybe Azog), after this you could consider "retiring" the license and selling it to someone else if it isn't the money spinner hoped, so then a different company can take a crack and hopefully that will satisfy more Hobbit fans.
- King of the Dead - because he is awesome and looks awesome
- Council of Elrond look Elrond - pretty much a no brainer, for me when I think of Elrond this is what I see. Plus its from arguably his most iconic scene. Should be fairly easy to do too, no need to redo the head sculpt.
- Haldir and the Helm's Deep Galadhrim - awesome characters and design, plus otherwise RandomHero may just kill us all out of sheer frustration.
- Uruk Hai - you need some different Uruks to make those Helm's Deep scenes, standard soldiers, berserkers, etc.
- Lurtz - coolest Uruk, Boromir's killer and a great design
- Boromir fellowship look reissue and Gondorian armor look - no brainer, he is due an upgrade but the original outfit is too beautiful not to be redone plus him and Lurtz together near the same time would boost sales and the Gondorian look is both a cool alternative for the character but can also be repurposed for both Knightly Faramir and for other Gondorian soldier looks.
- Crown Gandalf the White - we all want him, lets not kid ourselves.
- Isildur - great costume, important character and would help complete Last Alliance collection
- Gil-Galad & Elendil - same as above
- Sauron - admittedly maybe not practical, I have no idea how big a 1/6 Sauron would be but he should at least be considered he IS THE Lord of the Rings afterall, the primary villain and probably the coolest looking villain in cinematic history - just imagine if he was diecast (it would probably cost a fortune - but worth it) plus then the Last Alliance collection would be complete.
- Update/reissue of Strider Aragorn, its his classic look and Asmus haven't really nailed the likeness yet. As perhaps the deuteragonist of the films he does deserve a really solid release of his core look. But the time needs to be taken to get it perfect.
- Black Gate Aragorn with his horse (which has a FANTASTIC design), I would honestly buy this AND a reissue of the Strider look, but if I could have only one more Aragorn this is the chap, he looks amazing, his speech at the Black Gate is great, the costume shows he embraces his destiny and who he is meant to be, I love it.
- Pippin in his Guard of the Citadel outfit and Merry in his Rohan armour. Merry would go great with Eowyn and the Witch king and Pippin would go great with Gandalf the White, knightly Faramir if they chose to do him, and Denethor - who IS going to be on this list... Plus then you have more attractive display options for other core members of the Fellowship
- Easterlings (maybe Haradrim aswell - the Mumakil rider would probably win me over) - some of the coolest looking characters in the franchise. Would have killer shelf presence
- Fountain Guards - the coolest looking Gondorian soldiers, one of the best costume designs in the franchise for me.
- Denethor (in throne) - great character played excellently by John Noble, interesting costume as well, that coat has some serious volume.
- update to Saruman the White, the headsculpt could look a lot more like Christopher Lee in the LOTR movies, and it would be cool if he was in his throne like the new Weta statue. Though the plinth and Palantir are still awesome.... plus I don't own one and want one
- Sam reissue, so then I have the whole Fellowship and to go with the new Gollum figure and Frodo reissue.
- Then, as incredibly unlikely as it is I would rather get 1/6 larger characters like Trolls, Treebeard and Shelob, never going to happen but If I'm listing my preferences.......
- THEN I would prefer some awesome mounts for my figures like Shadowfax, The Great Eagles, Fellbeasts, Nazgul steeds, Thranduil's Irish Elk.... again unlikely.....

....... and then and only then would I get Grima Wormtongue, but I would get him. - PROMISE
He might get kicked up a few spots if there was a possessed Theoden & Saruman reissue/revamp sooner than later.....

My list:

-Grima Wormtongue...and then:

-Easterlings (simply THE coolest looking characters in the franchise)
- Fountain Guards - certainly the coolest looking Gondorian soldiers, and surely one of the best costume designs in the franchise.
- Denethor (in throne) - an essential character.



To me, reissues should be avoided as long as they are not necessary (Gandalf the white it is, for quality reasons), because otherwise you will risk to bore loyal long term customers.

PS: And NO Haldir. Useless presence, let alone that he does not appear at all in Tolkien's Helms Deep.

 

[superdoug]

I’d be interested in a Gamling figure. Would look pretty good on the shelf in that armour.

I would get one.

 

[lordnastrond]

PS: And NO Haldir. Useless presence, let alone that he does not appear at all in Tolkien's Helms Deep.

Be careful what you say... HE may hear you and his wroth will be swift and terrible!


Plus - I like Haldir's design, I'd rather have a dozen of him than 1 Gamling.

 

[BagginsOfBagEnd]

^ Yep, sounds like someone is really risking the wrath of one RandomHero!

 

[Tolkien Nerd]

Stand well back everybody, because the s--t is about to hit the fan when RandomHero sees the above comment regarding a certain ELF!

 

[warlock664]

 

[RandomHero]

PS: And NO Haldir. Useless presence, let alone that he does not appear at all in Tolkien's Helms Deep.

 

[RandomHero]

View attachment 563284

 

[RandomHero]

Thread status right now….

 

[RandomHero]

In all seriousness, I know there are many Tolkien fans who don't like some, or dare I say any, of the changes that Jackson made in the films. There are indeed some bad ones...the betrayal to Faramir's character in The Two Towers certainly has always stood out. But I do actually like many of the changes/tweaks, or dare I even say improvements that Jackson made to the story.

One of them is the Elves at Helm's Deep. Yes, I know, they weren't in the book. But honestly, if Tolkien had a weakness it was writing captivating battle stories. I always found the idea of bunch of old men and kids, with a handful of actual soldiers, holding off an army of bred specialty orcs through the night to be a bit ridiculous.

The Galadhrim coming to Helm's Deep adds so much credence to the battle. Instead of only "men who have seen too many winters, or too few" holding out all night until the Rohirrium arrives, there is a battalion of trained warriors and expert marksmen there fighting. It makes the defense of the fort much more believable, particularly when the wall is breached. If the Galadhrim wasn't there, that battle is over long before Gandalf arrives.

People can hate on the Elves coming to Helm's Deep all they want, they're entitled to that. But I think it's a great change from the books. It added a level of believability to the battle, which raised the stakes and added a lot of tension. I'm still on the edge of my seat every time I watch it.

 

[BagginsOfBagEnd]

^ Agreed. I liked the elf army inclusion too…I thought it worked quite well, after all, all the races of Middle Earth were under threat so makes sense the elves would come and help, honouring the alliance with men etc - plus it gives the viewers hope that the defenders of Helms Deep might just make it through it the battle…I get that hardcore fans/book readers would already know that etc but casual viewers might not.
Other peoples mileage may vary but I liked it.

 

[mitraheroe]

^ Agreed. I liked the elf army inclusion too…I thought it worked quite well, after all, all the races of Middle Earth were under threat so makes sense the elves would come and help, honouring the alliance with men etc - plus it gives the viewers hope that the defenders of Helms Deep might just make it through it the battle…I get that hardcore fans/book readers would already know that etc but casual viewers might not.
Other peoples mileage may vary but I liked it.

Nope. In the third age, not all the races of Middle Earth were under threat, because elves were by that time already leaving to Valinor. There is a reason why Tolkien wrote it that way: the coming of the age of men. That accentuates also the value of Theoden helping to Gondor in the third book, in spite of Gondor not having helped him at all...The inclusion of Elves in The Two Towers by Peter Jackson was a mistake, as he himself ultimately acknowledged by deleting Arwen from the battle of Helm's Deep.
This being said, I can perfectly understand why some people like the design of the Galadhrim. They look cool, even if out of place.

 

[DakRen]

PS: And NO Haldir. Useless presence, let alone that he does not appear at all in Tolkien's Helms Deep.

True, however just imagine Haldir in armor and the Galadhrim fighting in the Battle of the Trees which did appear in the book.

 

[DakRen]

Nope. In the third age, not all the races of Middle Earth were under threat, because elves were by that time already leaving to Valinor. There is a reason why Tolkien wrote it that way: the coming of the age of men. That accentuates also the value of Theoden helping to Gondor in the third book, in spite of Gondor not having helped him at all...The inclusion of Elves in The Two Towers by Peter Jackson was a mistake, as he himself ultimately acknowledged by deleting Arwen from the battle of Helm's Deep.
This being said, I can perfectly understand why some people like the design of the Galadhrim. They look cool, even if out of place.

Not exactly. At this point in time mostly only the Noldor were departing/had departed to Valinor. This is why Frodo meets Gildor Inglorion in Woodhall outside the Shire. Gildor is a Noldo leading a company of his people west to Mithlond. This is why PJ had the scene of Arwen leaving to Mithlond even if that never happened in the book, it was happening to Noldor groups across Eriador.

There were plenty of elves left in Mirkwood and Lothlorien. These areas were also under attack multiple times and in danger. It’s a little strange to say the elves weren’t in danger or fighting because they were all gone. That’s completely inaccurate. The reason they could not assist Gondor was because they were held up in their own battles. And elves still lingered into the 4th Age when Greenwood was renamed and Thranduil and Celeborn made a lasting alliance. There were still enough elves for Legolas to start a new settlement near Ithilien.