A LEGO Star Wars set rumoured for January 2027 could have the power to shape expectations for the theme's minifigures across the entire year.
Supposedly priced at $39.99, 75470 Mustafar Duel is expected to release in the new year, seven years after 75269 Duel on Mustafar, which originally retailed at half that price.
However, one key minifigure detail in the set could set the precedent for how characters are handled throughout 2027.
It is not wishful thinking to expect the new Mustafar Duel set to include Anakin with his iconic yellow Sith eyes. The 2020 version featured a dual-sided face with both standard and Sith expressions, and the LEGO Group could follow a similar approach this time.
However, whether this version of Anakin includes pupils is a small but significant detail that could either reinforce or reshape minifigure design expectations in 2027.
Since 75352 Emperor’s Throne Room Diorama released in 2023, featuring an Emperor Palpatine minifigure without pupils, the LEGO Group has increasingly opted to remove pupils from certain characters’ eyes, particularly the Sith. This trend has not been exclusive to villains, but it has been most noticeable among them.
In 2024, 75385 Ahsoka Tano’s Duel on Peridea extended this stylistic choice beyond the dark side, with Ahsoka Tano and Ezra Bridger also depicted without pupils.
Since then, the LEGO Group has continued to lean into this design direction, keeping pupils absent in a growing number of minifigures. Even characters such as Salacious B. Crumb in 75397 Jabba’s Sail Barge were released without pupils, a decision that received mixed reactions from fans.
While some argue that removing pupils gives Sith characters a more unsettling or stylised appearance, overall fan sentiment has leaned negative, with many saying the figures look less accurate or somewhat lifeless. Discussions across YouTube and Reddit have frequently criticised the approach, with some describing the faces as lacking detail.
For some fans, this shift has felt like a step backwards in minifigure design quality. Historically, printed pupils were a standard detail that added expressiveness and accuracy, and their removal has been a noticeable change.
If the LEGO Group chooses to give Anakin his Sith eyes with pupils in a high-profile set that kicks off 2027, it could signal a positive shift in design direction. It would suggest the company is responsive to fan feedback and willing to refine its approach to deliver the most accurate products possible.
If that one small minifigure detail is handled correctly, it could bode well for LEGO Star Wars throughout 2027. If it remains unchanged, however, it could reinforce a continued controversial tone for the year ahead.
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