Honestly, if you grew up in the late 2000s, you probably remember the absolute chaos of that mine cart chase. It wasn't just a movie scene; it was the peak of the original LEGO Indiana Jones Temple of Doom play experience. We’re talking about set 7199, released back in 2009. It was messy. It was gray. It had those weirdly specific track pieces that never seemed to stay together on a carpeted floor.
But it worked.
LEGO and Indy have had a rocky relationship lately. Fans were hyped for the 2023 revival, expecting a modern remake of the underground Thuggee lair. Instead? Silence. We got the Raiders temple, the fighter plane chase, and the Last Crusade tomb. The Temple of Doom stayed buried. This cancellation—or "indefinite delay," if you want to be corporate about it—has turned the original 2009 sets and the digital levels in the video games into weirdly precious artifacts.
The 7199 Problem: Why the Original LEGO Indiana Jones Temple of Doom Set is a Legend
The 2009 set was a beast of its time. 652 pieces. That sounds small today when a random Star Wars bust is 800 pieces, but in 2009, 7199 was a flagship. It captured the ritual chamber, the skull altar, and that iconic track.
Here is the thing about the "The Chilled Monkey Brains" era of LEGO. The minifigures were transitional. Indy still had those classic dot eyes, but Mola Ram? He was terrifying. The headpiece for the Thuggee high priest is still one of the most detailed molds LEGO has ever produced for a licensed theme. If you look at the secondary market on sites like BrickLink or eBay today, a complete Mola Ram minifigure can unironically cost more than a brand-new, mid-sized LEGO set. It’s wild.
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The set design itself was actually kinda genius for its era. It used a gravity-fed play feature where the mine carts would roll down the track. Simple? Yes. Did it jam every third time because the plastic friction was too high? Also yes. But it felt like the movie. Most modern sets are designed for shelves. This thing was designed to be beaten up.
The 2023 Cancellation Mystery
So, what happened to the remake? We know it existed. Leaked images of set 77014 showed a beautiful, modernized version of the LEGO Indiana Jones Temple of Doom. It had the giant Kali statue. It had the lava pit. It even had a more polished version of the mine cart tracks.
Then, LEGO pulled the plug.
They released a statement basically saying they were "consolidating" the launch. But collectors aren't buying it. There’s a lot of speculation that the subject matter of Temple of Doom—which has faced decades of criticism regarding its portrayal of Indian culture and Hinduism—didn't align with LEGO’s modern brand safety guidelines. It’s a valid point of discussion. The film has always been the "black sheep" of the franchise for that very reason.
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Regardless of the "why," the result is that the old sets have skyrocketed in value. You’re looking at $500 to $800 for a sealed box of the original 2009 version. Even used, incomplete sets go for a premium.
Reliving the Temple Through the Video Games
If you can't drop a month's rent on a plastic mine cart, most people turn to the LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures video game. This is where the Temple of Doom actually shines.
The game developers at Traveller's Tales (TT Games) did something the physical sets couldn't: they made the atmosphere feel oppressive and funny at the same time. The level design for the "Temple of Doom" chapter is arguably the hardest in the first game. You have the boss fight with the Maharaja, the frantic escape from the spike room, and finally, the bridge showdown.
- Use the Thuggee statues to open secret doors.
- Switch to Short Round because he’s the only one who fits in the vents.
- Keep Indy away from the snakes (obviously).
The game handled the problematic elements of the film by leaning into the "absurdist comedy" trope that LEGO games are famous for. It turned the terrifying ritual into a slapstick sequence involving bananas and dancing. It’s probably the most "pure" way to experience this specific part of the Indy lore without the baggage of the 1984 film’s controversial choices.
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Building Your Own MOC (My Own Creation)
Since LEGO won't give us a new LEGO Indiana Jones Temple of Doom, the fan community has taken over. This is honestly where the hobby gets cool. If you go on Rebrickable, you can find custom instructions that use parts from the 2023 Raiders of the Lost Ark set (77015) to build a custom Temple of Doom.
It’s expensive, but it looks better than anything LEGO would have put in a $80 box. Fans use translucent orange plates and light bricks to simulate the lava. They use "SNOT" (Studs Not On Top) techniques to make the Kali statue look curved and organic rather than blocky.
- Tip: Look for the "Dark Orange" and "Dark Red" color palettes. They match the film’s lighting much better than the basic bright red LEGO uses.
- Pro Tip: If you want a Mola Ram figure without paying $100, look for custom UV-printed versions from reputable third-party sellers. They aren't "official," but the quality often rivals the real thing.
Why We Are Still Obsessed
It’s the nostalgia. It’s the fact that it’s the "forbidden" set now. There is something about that specific aesthetic—the dark browns, the flickering torches, the sense of dread—that translates perfectly to LEGO bricks.
We love the struggle. Indiana Jones is a hero who wins by the skin of his teeth. Building a crumbling temple out of bricks that literally fall apart if you bump them? That’s the most authentic Indy experience you can have.
Actionable Steps for Collectors
If you are trying to get your hands on a LEGO Indiana Jones Temple of Doom experience today, don't just blindly overpay on eBay. Do this instead:
- BrickLink Part-Out: Don't buy the set 7199 whole. Go to BrickLink, find the inventory list, and see which parts you already own. Often, the "unique" parts are just the stickers and the minifigures. You can build the structure for 30% of the cost using generic bulk bricks.
- Digital Play: Grab LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures on Steam or GOG. It’s usually under $10 during a sale and runs on basically any laptop. It’s the best way to see the "lost" levels.
- Check Local Listings: Look on Facebook Marketplace or at garage sales. Parents often sell "tubs of LEGO" without realizing there is a $100 Thuggee priest at the bottom of the bin. Look for those specific maroon torsos and horned headpieces.
- Modify the New Sets: Take the 2023 Fighter Plane Chase (77012) and use those tan and grey pieces as a base for a custom temple entrance. The color schemes are remarkably compatible.
The market for these sets isn't going to get cheaper. As the kids who played the 2008 game get older and find disposable income, the demand for "The Temple" will only climb. Buy the parts now, build your own version, and leave the $800 sealed boxes to the investors. Toys are meant to be played with, even the "canceled" ones.