As fans of LEGO® Star Wars™ change, so does the Ultimate Collector Series (2020 – 2025)

By 2020, the LEGO® Star Wars™ Ultimate Collector Series was well established and the popularity among adult fans was clear to see and hear. The influence of LEGO fans on the series was to become clearer than ever…

Since its beginning in 2000, the Ultimate Collector Series has been a beacon of hope for teenage and adult Star Wars fans, as well as those seeking an advanced LEGO building experience. Though equivalent sets are now available in various themes, LEGO Star Wars remains an unending source of stunning models and one that changes with its audience, as we see from 2020 onwards.

2020: Completing the Fleet

Rebel spacecraft have always been an integral part of the Ultimate Collector Series, as the X-wing Starfighter, Y-wing Starfighter and B-wing Starfighter have all featured in this range, sometimes twice! However, it was not until 2020 that the agile A-wing Starfighter (75275) sped onto shelves, completing the Rebel fighter fleet from the Original Trilogy.

Consisting of over 1,600 pieces, this was a substantial model and featured an ingenious network of interlocking hull panels.

2021: Fan-favorite Behemoths

Many vehicles have the potential to appear in the Ultimate Collector Series, but those launched in 2021 are icons of the Prequel Trilogy and the Original Trilogy.

The mighty Republic Gunship (75309) was released as the result of a fan vote on LEGO Ideas, which ran in early 2020. This was the first Prequel Trilogy vehicle to appear in the Ultimate Collector Series since Obi-Wan’s Jedi Starfighter (10215) over a decade earlier, so its release was much anticipated. The model did not disappoint, with a wingspan of 29 inches, or 74cm, plus many movie-accurate details from Attack of the Clones™.

Whereas anticipation for the Republic Gunship was concentrated over just a couple of years, LEGO fans had discussed the potential of an Ultimate Collector Series AT-AT for almost two decades by the time the AT-AT (75313) actually arrived! Just like the classic Imperial walkers from The Empire Strikes Back™, this model was a giant, measuring over 24.5 inches (62cm) in height. Its sheer size required clever engineering in the knee joints, which could be articulated using a screwdriver-like device included in the set. The innovative knee joint design? Ingenious, it was.

2022: Old and New

2022 yielded another interesting pair of Ultimate Collector Series models, the first being the scrappy charm of Luke Skywalker’s Landspeeder (75341). Inspired by Luke’s simple transport from A New Hope™, this rendition captured the landspeeder’s rounded bodywork perfectly and made creative use of flexible hoses around the front and sides as repulsor vents.

Star Wars: The Mandalorian™ was launched to acclaim on Disney+ in 2019, following bounty hunter Din Djarin and his adopted child, Grogu. Djarin’s vehicle became almost as popular as the bounty hunter himself and The Razor Crest (75331) was developed just three years after the series began. Similar to the Millennium Falcon (75192) and the AT-AT (75313) before, the model was minifigure-scale, so it offered excellent interior detail and weathering throughout.

2023: Old and New Continues

Very few Star Wars vehicles, if any, can rival the celebrated status of the T-65 X-wing – so the famed starfighter received its third Ultimate Collector Series outing in 2023. Exactly as the model from 2013 improved on that from 2000, the new X-wing Starfighter (75355) also advanced, recreating the fighter’s hexagonal fuselage.

The magnificent Venator-class Republic Attack Cruiser (75367) arrived in 2023 as well, becoming by far the biggest Prequel Trilogy LEGO set ever produced. With 5,734 pieces, this massive symbol of the Republic’s might became a builder’s dream and a Sith’s worst nightmare. This was another highly anticipated addition to the series, involving building techniques quite similar to the Imperial Star Destroyer (75252) introduced in 2019, as large panels covered a rigid Technic™ core.

2024: Back to the Beginning

No set presents the development of the Ultimate Collector Series more effectively than the TIE Interceptor (75382). The range began with another TIE Interceptor (7181) in 2000, but this version includes almost three times as many pieces and far greater detail. There are consistent features between this pair, however, such as the returning use of shovels as targeting sensors.

The newest addition to the series in 2024 and the ultimate den of villainy, Jabba’s Sail Barge (75397), is another that LEGO fans have requested for many years and another minifigure-scale vehicle. The internal detail therefore matches the impressive exterior, with ample space for Jabba and his allies, as well as rebels planning their escape! Trust us, this set has almost as much swagger as the Hutt himself…

2025: Bounty Hunters and Battle Walkers

The long-awaited arrival of Jango Fett’s Firespray-Class Starship (75409) finally gave Jango his due. Measuring over 17.5 inches (44cm) in length, the starship captures the vessel’s distinctive curves with a newly designed cockpit canopy element, a detailed interior, a deployable entrance ramp and even a hidden seismic charge compartment – an instant highlight for Prequel Trilogy fans. This was also the first time Jango Fett and Young Boba Fett had been included in an Ultimate Collector Series set, making it a must-have for collectors!

The towering AT-ST™ Walker (75417) also marched into the range in 2025, nicely complementing the larger AT-AT (75313). This long-requested vehicle is packed with authentic details, from poseable legs and a rotating ‘head’ to adjustable laser cannons and shutters over the viewports. As interactive as it is imposing, the set finally gave fans the Ultimate Collector Series scout walker they’d been asking for.

The LEGO Group has released an increasing number of highly detailed display-oriented sets in recent years, intended mainly for adults. The Ultimate Collector Series has been at the forefront of this trend for over two decades and continues unabated, building one of the most spectacular collections of LEGO sets possible. May the Force be with you as you build your collection!