The LEGO® Star Wars™ Ultimate Collector Series Through the Years

The LEGO® Ultimate Collector Series (UCS) features incredibly detailed display sets of some of the most iconic aspects of the LEGO Star Wars™ galaxy.

This epic range has previously included sets based on legendary vehicles like X-wing fighters, TIE Interceptor, the Millenium Falcon and most recently the LEGO Star Wars Jango Fett’s Firespray-Class Starship.

Now, there’s a new gargantuan battle station coming out of hyperspace and into the collection. We’re, of course, talking about the new LEGO Star Wars Death Star (75419).

With over 9,000 pieces, this model is the biggest LEGO Star Wars set ever seen in the entire UCS collection. Not only does it come with a total of 38 (yes, 38!) LEGO Star Wars minifigures and figures, it also encompasses all rooms and scenes from the two fan-favorite episodes, Star Wars: A New Hope™ and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi™, making it a dream come true for any fan of the classic Star Wars saga!

To find out more about the new LEGO Star Wars Death Star, we spoke to César Carvalhosa Soares, a LEGO designer who has worked on multiple LEGO Star Wars sets and who was the lead designer on the new one.

That’s no moon...

It’s the biggest LEGO Star Wars set ever! For long-time LEGO Star Wars fans, the silhouette might spark a memory of a familiar favorite. But hold on to your Lightsabers™ and believe us when we say that this is no reissue.

“For a while, we had been thinking about making a new Death Star as it is one of the most recognizable scenes from the Star Wars universe,” says César.

So, how does the new LEGO Star Wars Death Star model differ from the previous version? To that, César explains:

“This one is different in many ways: It’s bigger, much more detailed and includes virtually all the rooms and scenes from Episode 4 and Episode 6. We wanted fans to be able to recreate all their favorite scenes with this LEGO model.”

With a treasure trove of iconic scenes and never-before-seen details, true fans are in for a treat as they dive into the set, ready to reenact and recreate every single iconic Death Star scene from Star Wars: A New Hope and Star Wars: Return of the Jedi.

Explore a galaxy of details (and Easter eggs)

With its 9,023 pieces, this is the biggest and most detailed LEGO Star Wars UCS set ever released.

“We really wanted this model to be the Ultimate Death Star LEGO set. That’s why we aimed for high levels of detail and accuracy in every room, from shiny tiled floors down to all sorts of control panels and working doors,” shares César.

From the wide-open hangar bay with the Imperial Shuttle to the thrilling trash compactor with moving walls and a sneaky Dianoga eye, where the Rebel heroes found themselves in quite a pickle. You’ll also find Princess Leia’s holding cell, the hangar control room where Luke Skywalker and Han Solo slipped into Stormtrooper disguises, and the blast doors where Luke caught a glimpse of Obi-Wan Kenobi’s final duel. And, of course, Emperor Palpatine’s throne room, complete with the iconic backdrop overlooking the galaxy. There are so many details that fans can immerse themselves in as they build.

But what about any hidden surprises? We all know that LEGO designers love to hide Easter eggs in their designs. Did César manage to squeeze any hidden details into the LEGO Star Wars Death Star?

“One of the best things about designing iconic scenes is that we have the opportunity to include some Easter eggs in the model. Some are brick-built, others are on stickers and most of them are quite obvious to find, but there are a couple that are more hidden and only a sharp eye will perhaps notice them!”

So, if you’re a superfan, get ready to uncover a galaxy of surprises and hidden references as you build! No spoilers here – if you know, you know.

A record-breaking lineup of fan-favorite minifigures

Just as with the amount of detail paid to the build, the set features a record-breaking lineup of 38 fan-favorite LEGO Star Wars minifigures and figures! You’ll find Luke Skywalker as both Jedi and Stormtrooper, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, Darth Vader and droids. And yes, there’s even a minifigure of the brilliant scientist behind the Death Star’s creation, Galen Erso!

“No LEGO Star Wars Death Star set would be complete without a fantastic lineup of LEGO Star Wars minifigures,” says César. “We made sure that every room, every scene or vehicle would have the appropriate minifigure(s) to go along. We even included some minifigures that are never seen on any of the Death Stars, but their role was pivotal for the plot, like Galen Erso, one of the Death Star architects.”

An elevator that ties it all together

As something never seen before, the model features a multi-level elevator system that links every floor, down from the hangar bay all the way up to the highest level where the Throne Room is. Manually operated from the top of the model, the elevator smoothly transports minifigures through all scenes and narratives of the set, making it a central spine that ties the entire build and experience together.

But how did César tackle the design of this innovative multi-level elevator system? “When designing a set like this one, with multiple rooms on different levels, it is crucial that every single one of them is reachable by the minifigures. That’s why the elevator was included from the start,” César explains. “It was one of the biggest challenges to make it work, because we wanted it to be a smooth experience when it’s operated from the knob on the top, and we kept having issues with the cabin getting stuck on the shaft walls. In the end, rounded corners proved to be the solution for a hassle-free function.”

A Death Star for every space

While this is the biggest LEGO Star Wars set ever, stretching over 31 in. (79cm) wide, it (thankfully) doesn’t require an entire galaxy to display. Because of its thoughtful design, it can easily be showcased in as many spaces as possible! With its cross-section style, viewers can peek inside and marvel at all those (many) layers and scenes, all at once.  

The design also incorporates a flat side, enabling builders to proudly show off their work by squeezing it into tighter spots. And the best part, as César puts it: “You don’t have to rotate the model to see all the rooms and interact with them,” making it the most displayable LEGO Star Wars Death Star yet!

What is the Ultimate Collector Series?

Since its launch, the UCS has featured many LEGO Star Wars sets, which allow fans to build the vehicles and locations they love on an impressively large and minutely detailed scale.

Many sets are instantly recognizable icons from the original trilogy, like the Death Star, the Super Star Destroyer or the Rebel Blockade Runner (which superfans may know was the first ship to ever appear in the Star Wars franchise). But for newer fans of the more recent series, there are also vehicles from Star Wars: The Clone Wars™ and Star Wars: The Mandalorian™.