Sean Astin announces launch of new Lord of the Rings Lego set
Known for playing the role of Samwise Gamgee, Astin revived his love for the well-known fantasy series in a commercial for the Lego set.
The commercial, released on 25 March 2025, features the actor taking viewers through a tour of the miniature set.
"It's no bad thing to celebrate a simple life of wholesome comfort," says the nostalgic actor as he reminisces on the original trilogy.
The full mini-film is available to view at LEGO.com/TheShire.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gizmodo
6 hours ago
- Gizmodo
Lego's August Releases Are Going Merry
Lego usually has quiet months and big months in terms of releases, but by far and away the two most important times of the year for Lego—and most threatening for your wallet as a Lego fan—are the start of it in January and the height of summer in August. The latter is finally here, and Lego has a lot of options for if you want to beat the heat by staying inside and building bricks. A lot of options. With dozens upon dozens upon dozens of new sets arriving today, it's hard to really break down particular highlights, with almost every major Lego line getting at least a couple of releases, alongside stalwarts like Marvel and Star Wars getting massive new waves. There are even a few entirely new lines making their debut amid the mania too, like the highly anticipated arrival of Lego One Piece, inspired by the Netflix adaptation. Check out all those, and more, in our roundup of the most interesting sets arriving this month! Lego has a few Technic sets out this month, but the standout in our genre-nerd eyes has to be this amazing rover set, inspired by the fabled Lego Space line. The kit comes with a primary moon rover, as well as smaller builds for a mining rover and MAPP rover, and some moon rocks they can collect into a sample container. ($100, available here). The multibuild creator sets are always an opportunity to sneak in some nods to other Lego lines, and August's offerings include a pretty fun new Lego Castle set for any medieval fantasy fans (introducing a new faction) and a cutie-spooky Monster Fighters homage in the Haunted Mansion. But then, consider this! There is also Beautiful Horse. Its beauty is, perhaps, in the eye of the beholder. Inspired by the first season of the Netflix live-action adaptation of the seminal anime and manga, Lego is going all out for the debut of One Piece as a line, right in time for the excitement around season two. From small sets to massive adult-focused kits like the Baratie, there's something for every fan of the show here—but of course the highlight has to be the Going Merry, which comes with the complete (up to this point in the series) Straw Hat crew in one place. Speaking of Netflix shows gearing up for season two! Just in time for the first volume of Wednesday's return to hit the streamer next week, Lego has concocted a buildable black dahlia flower, complete with minidolls of Wednesday and Professor Thornhill. ($28, available here). It's a big Spider-Man wave for Lego Marvel in August, but there are some more Avenging sets around, like sets inspired by Iron Man 2 and Endgame. That doesn't stop the webslinger from taking the prize, though, in the form of a subway train set inspired by the classic one Lego released for Sam Raimi's Spider-Man 2. The Mario line has been on a bit of a karting kick lately, and August is no exception. But not every set is about that kart life: we get a couple of fun Toad buildable sets, including one inspired by Captain Toad: Treasure Tracker. The first Decepticon to join the Lego Transformers line, Soundwave can transform between robot and cassette player mode and comes with buildable (and similarly transforming) Ravage and Laserbeak minions that can sit in his tape deck. He even plays sounds from a special brick built into his torso unit! ($190, available here) Away from the glow of the movie release, things are back to normal for Lego Minecraft, which offers a special piece of gaming advice this month: maybe don't build your house out of TNT. It's a very big and very expensive month for Star Wars fans with an eclectic mix of sets on offer—from a tease of the next Lego Star Wars animated adventure to a new UCS AT-ST and even some buildable characters in the form of K-2SO and Wicket. This cute gaming model replicates a classic arcade machine, which in itself hides a little gamer cave for the included minifigure to hang out in. ($40, available here). There are still a few more villagers and locales Nintendo and Lego can add to your islands this month, including Blathers' museum! Metal Sonic strikes in the handful of Sonic sets we get this month, which splits Knuckles, Sonic, and Tails across two different villainous battles. Cultural reappraisals aside, one thing that's always been beloved about Batman Forever is its slick Batmobile, which Lego is wonderfully recreating in this new display model—complete with a minifigure Batman inspired by the film's Sonar Batsuit. ($100, available here). Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what's next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
Cosmopolitan
8 hours ago
- Cosmopolitan
Who Is Jenna Ortega Dating?
Jenna Ortega is truly the president of the Mind Your Own Business Club™️. Like, in a world of people who post absolutely everything, she chooses to stay mum in public about her personal life. That said, the Wednesday star *did* share a rare update on her relationship status during an August 2024 interview with Vanity Fair when she said, 'I don't plan on speaking about my love life publicly, because that's mine.' Honestly, truer words! Given all of this, it's no surprise that Jenna has never been in a relationship that the public knows about. Even so, relationship rumors follow her pretty regularly. Here's a list of Jenna Ortega relationship rumors throughout the years—literally all of which have turned out to be false—and how they were ultimately corrected. Jenna and Jacob sparked untrue dating rumors after the actor appeared in the musician's music video for his song, 'Chapstick.' In the vid, the two stars pretended to be on a date while gallivanting around New York City playing carnival games, eating ice cream, roasting marshmallows, and walking across the Brooklyn Bridge together. In other words, a picture-perfect day that would have made middle school me weep. Let's roll back the tapes, shall we? Despite the fact that Jenna and Jacob appeared to have *tons* of on-screen chemistry, they never actually became more than just friends IRL. As the musician put it during a convo with J-14 at the time,'We're really good friends.' He went on to add, 'It was really fun to film the video. She's really nice, so we had good chemistry on camera and off.' But that was it, apparently! Fans first began speculating about the Disney channel stars after they showed up to the Venom movie premiere together in October 2018. The pair also made a handful public appearances together afterwards. Case in point? Just Jared's 7th Annual Halloween Party, where they wore the cutest couples costume. Enter: my renewed obsession with Ari and Pete. They were also spotted at a fashion show, during which Asher wasted no time posting a cute vid with the caption "this one ❤️" on his Insta Stories, per J-14. Despite tons of fan support and speculation, neither Jenna nor Asher ever confirmed (or denied) the relationship rumors. However! Some fans believe Asher is the person Jenna very briefly alluded to when she referenced an ex on Dax Shepherd's Armchair Expert podcast in March 2023. 'I was in a relationship for a couple of years but I stopped when things got too hectic,' Jenna said at the time. 'Kay, so this one ab-so-lute-ly never happened, but it tricked the internet for a hot sec. Back in early 2023, a fully fake rumor spread about Jenna and Kendall Jenner's on-and-off-again boyfriend Devin Booker going on a dinner date together, with supposed 'photographic evidence' of them leaving a restaurant. But fans quickly deduced that the image was entirely photoshopped, putting an end to the fakery. And that's that! As far as fans know, Jenna is happily single right if that changes, the public will probably be the last to know.
CNN
9 hours ago
- CNN
Lego's annual summer wave is here with 107 new sets. These are the 5 kits I'm building
The largest wave of new Lego sets in 2025 has just landed for August. While summer may be winding down over the next few weeks, Lego is just getting started with the season by launching its annual summer collection complete with a fresh batch of Star Wars starfighters, life-like botanical builds, motorized trains and so much more. But as someone who owns hundreds of Lego sets herself, there are only so many of the product launches I can consider buying or recommending. And with 107 new kits to keep in mind for August 1, I'm diving in to break down what's new, what I've already purchased and what I think is worth building. To start off August, I got up and ran to the Lego store to pick up some of these new sets that just landed on store shelves. It should be no surprise to see the latest from Lego Star Wars make the cut, but I also am ready to build new flower kits and the latest Transformers model. Lego Star Wars Jango Fett's Starship It's not an exaggeration when I say that I've been waiting over a decade for this set to come out. Lego hasn't released this starfighter from "Attack of the Clones" since back when Episode II first hit theaters over 20 years ago. The wait was worth it, as this was the first set I started assembling today. Love the details and the three included minifigures that are new for 2025. Lego Botanicals Hibiscus There's a new flower landing in the Lego Botanicals collection today with the first-ever Hibiscus model. I instantly fell in love with the unique pieces and interesting building techniques that allow this kit to stack up to a gorgeous display piece. It stands over 14 inches tall and includes 660 bricks. Lego Arcade Machine Lego has been stealing headlines lately for its gaming-inspired builds, like the new Game Boy set it just announced. This month, there's a new arcade machine kit that's even more appealing in my eyes. It features 468 pieces that assemble into a an arcade cabinet build that splits open to reveal a detailed gamer's room inside. Lego Botanicals Mini Bonsai Trees The last time Lego released a buildable bonsai tree, I ran out to buy the set the day it came out. Lego must know these Botanicals kits are my weakness, because there's a new kit on sale for August that includes a trio of mini bonsais. There's a ginkgo bonsai tree with yellow leaves, a black pine bonsai tree with green needles and a wisteria bonsai tree with hanging lilac flowers — all of which include their own miniature planter. Lego Icons Transformers: Soundwave Lego has been partnering with Hasbro to release these brick-built Transformers for years, and I am still shocked by just how amazing they are. Past ones like Optimius Prime and Bumblebee have been able to actually morph between car and robot modes, and this new Soundwave kit improves the process with an all-new audio brick that brings the Decepticon and his cassette player mode to life. Alongside all the new kits that I've actually picked up today, there are quite a few others I'll be looking into getting later in the year. After all, Lego gifts are always on my mind going into the winter holidays. Below, I'm shining the spotlight on some new collaborations with TV shows like 'One Piece,' kits straight out of video games like Fortnite and even highly detailed historic castle models. Lego Batman Forever Batmobile After seeing "Superman" earlier this summer, I am sold on future DC projects. But before I get too ahead of myself, this Lego set is here to take a look back at the Batman Forever movie from the late 1990s. It assembles a retro version of the Batmobile complete with a unique version of Bruce Wayne based on his appearance in the film. Lego One Piece The Going Merry Pirate Ship I can't believe that Lego is finally making anime-inspired sets. But the August wave of summer sets are here and so is a whole lineup of kits from the live action "One Piece." The Straw Hats' iconic pirate ship, The Going Merry, is easily my favorite from the collection. The five entirely new minifigures, nearly 1,400 included bricks and overall size of the model make this one of 2025's best kits and a solid value for fans of the Netflix show and original anime alike. Lego City Explorers' Arctic Polar Express Train Most Lego fans can agree that the company doesn't release enough trains. So when new kits like this incredible Arctic Polar Express Train do hit store shelves, it's worth highlighting. The $210 price tag may seem high for a kit with only 1,517 pieces, but it does include the motorized locomotive, plenty of track pieces for a customizable layout and six minifigures. Lego Speed Champions Lamborghini Revuelto and Huracán STO Speed Champions is back with another garage of brick-built supercars this month, which come headlined by this pair of Lamborghinis. I can't decide if I like the orange Revuelto or the blue Huracán STO better, but either one includes immaculate details that car enthusiast and Lego fans will both appreciate. Lego Creator 3-in-1 Medieval Horse Knight Castle Whether you remember building the original knights sets as a kid or you're just a fan of all things medieval, Lego Castle fans can rejoice this month. This nearly 1,400-piece castle includes can be assembled into three different models including the titular fortress, a jousting arena and a medieval town. Regardless of which build you assemble, there are six minifigures and two horses in the kit. Lego Fortnite Mecha Team Leader I am such a sucker for Lego Mecha. I've gone on record before saying that if the company makes a buildable robot, I am likely going to end up buying it. Since I just picked up the Soundwave figure above, this one is going to have to wait. This Fortnite set has still caught my eye, and assembles one of the tallest mechs the company has ever dared to make at nearly 18 inches tall, and backs it with posable limbs and a colorful design inspired by Voltron. Lego Neuschwanstein Castle For older Lego builders, the company's Architecture theme makes some of its most enticing kits. This new Neuschwanstein Castle set certainly fits the bill, with over 3,400 bricks that assemble into a detailed recreation of the iconic Bavarian castle. Lego Technic Volvo EC500 Hybrid Excavator One of the most expensive Lego sets in all of 2025, this Volvo excavator backs up its steep price tag with over 2,300 pieces to assemble this detailed and technically impressive construction tool. Motorized features also help make the price seem better, as they can recreate the real vehicle's operating arm features. There's also opening cabin doors, moving tracks and a rotating excavator body. Lego Star Wars Battle of Felucia Separatist MTT The summer wave of Lego sets includes several Star Wars builds, like this MTT vehicle. I wish I had room in my collection to buy this one right away, but it's definitely one of the kits I'll be eyeing for later on in the year. I adore the Battle Droid rack that deploys from the front and the slick blue and grey color scheme. The $160 is on the higher end, but the moment this goes on sale for the first time, I know I won't be able to stop myself from picking it up. Lego Spider-Man vs. Doc Ock Subway Train Scene It's been ages since Lego has made any kits based around the original "Spider-Man" movies starring Tobey Maguire. This one recreates one of the trilogy's most iconic moments, as Peter Parker tries to stop a subway train from crashing off the tracks. Being a comic book fan in New York City makes this set even cooler for me and is one I'll have to add to my Lego city sooner than later. Lego may release new sets periodically throughout the year, but the January New Year's launches and August waves some the most exciting. Known as its summer collection, this month has the largest lineup of new kits in all of 2025 so far. Unfortunately for Lego fans like myself, there are more kits worth your cash than ever, so narrowing down the 107 new releases to just 15 recommendations is tough. But when you have a Lego collection as large as mine, you have to pick and choose which kits are worth not just your money but also the physical space to display. Here at CNN Underscored, we make it our job to stay up to date on all the latest products, but we don't just find them; we also rigorously test products from hundreds of brands to make sure every gift you give is a hit. In the case of this shopping guide for the new 2025 Lego sets, you're getting recommendations from a lifelong Lego fan. Senior deals editor Rikka Altland has been building Lego since before she could form full sentences. She has also been writing about Lego professionally for nearly a decade and has been collecting kits for almost twice as long. Altland is constantly buying new kits, so when she says she loves a kit and thinks it's worth buying, she's putting her money where her mouth is.
