The LEGO Group is considering releasing an official building set for the beloved sci-fi movie The Fifth Element featuring the iconic yellow taxi that Korben Dallas drives while trying to save the world.
A LEGO The Fifth Element construction toy may be coming. It is currently under consideration by the Danish construction toy giant, with a decision expected within the next year.
The Fifth Element follows taxi driver Korben Dallas (Bruce Willis) as he tries to stop an apocalyptic war from destroying the world by finding the mysterious Fifth Element. It’s while driving – or flying – his cab in a futuristic New York City that a woman named Leeloo crashes onto it while fleeing from a biotech lab. She’s actually the Fifth Element and the police are in hot pursuit, which throws Dallas into a high-speed chase between the skyscrapers.
The memorable scene has inspired a LEGO fan who goes by MarinBrickDesign to build the taxi. While the sci-fi film was not a huge box office success upon its release in 1997, it has since become a cult classic and fans of the dystopian adventure helped the fan-built model to accrue 10,000 votes on the LEGO Ideas platform.
The LEGO Group has not approved nor rejected the concept and put it into the Parking Lot, where it will be considered further for possible release. This is intended to give the company time to explore licensing agreements, consider how to approach the product, ensure that it is feasible and take a closer look at any other considerations.
Parking Lot models have a decent success rate – 21273 Downton Abbey, Daft Punk, The Old Man and the Sea, were all approved for official release after being in the limbo state.
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“Being a fan of science fiction, I loved this film, especially this famous chase scene in the streets of New York in a futuristic version of the city,” explained MarinBrickDesign. “Plus, I love the mix of retro taxi and flying car. I had a lot of fun reproducing the curves and shapes of this vehicle with LEGO pieces. It’s the perfect mix of nostalgia and future. This taxi marked an entire generation and that’s why it has earned its place in the collection of emblematic movie vehicles.”
Its iconic sleek shape was inspired from the drawings in the comic book series Valerian & Laureline by artist Jean-Clause Mézières in 1994. It inspired director, Luc Busson, so much, that he actually rewrote the original script for The Fifth Element and changed Dallas’s profession from a factory worker to a taxi driver.
In the submission, the futuristic hovercraft is recreated through a plethora of curved yellow and grey bricks and sits on a display stand to give the impression that it’s flying. There’s also a little multi-pass bearing Leeloo’s adopted identity that she uses to avoid being captured by the police.
“This creation also includes Leeloo and Korben Dallas minifigures,” continues MarinBrickDesign. “Then the taxi’s roof can be detached to reveal a detailed interior that includes all the equipment seen in the film.”
If the set is selected for release, the professional LEGO designers will make changes to the fan concept.
This is one of two sets that have been added to the Parking Lot during this review round, alongside Peashooter based on Plants vs. Zombies. Tulip Field Windmill, Interstellar and Chinese Cork Art Carving have been officially announced as upcoming LEGO sets.
The LEGO Group recently announced 21375 Godzilla, the largest ever LEGO Ideas set.
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