There’s no denying the iconic nature, cultural significance and overall fanfare surrounding the Star Wars franchise. So when props used in the original three films go up for auction, there’s a real cause for commotion. Luke Skywalker’s Lightsaber from Return of the Jedi will soon be entering the bidding war, with the prop expected to draw in a high selling price and only the most devoted Star Wars fans.
Star Wars: Return of the Jedi took the nation by storm in 1983 and was the third film in George Lucas’s trilogy. In the final installment, the heroic band of rebels Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Chewbacca and Princess Leia take on the Empire once and for all. With Luke at the forefront of the movie, his iconic weapon was coveted by fans, a dream which could soon become a reality for the right price.
Luke’s Lightsaber from the film sports a different design than the instantly recognizable one featured in A New Hope. But just because this isn’t the model featured in all three of the franchise’s trilogies doesn’t mean it won’t be fetching an outlandish price at auction.
The Lightsaber prop itself is created from cast metal alongside brass and rubber accent pieces. It measures just under 12-inches in length with a maximum diameter of 2-inches. Luke’s weapon of choice is every bit as authentic as you can imagine, featuring notable details like a chipped edge along the top rim as visible in the film.
Only three of the models were built and used on set, with this particular version of the lightsaber serving for close up shots of R2D2 during the famous escape scene over the Sarlacc Pit on Tatooine. If you don’t recall, during one of the early scenes in Return of the Jedi, R2 launches the Lightsaber towards Luke so that they can escape the clutches of the formidable Jabba the Hutt.
If you consider yourself the ultimate Star Wars fan and need to add this historic prop to your collection, bidding begins towards the end of the month on November 21st. The auctioneers at Bonhams estimate it will go for at least $150,000, a ludicrous price for even the most dedicated fans. While you may have to sell your house, belongings and maybe even a kidney to buy it, owning a piece of film history like this is essentially priceless.
Twentieth Century-Fox, 1983. Assembled and machined cast metal, brass, and rubber Lightsaber prop. This original Luke Skywalker Lightsaber appears in a key moment in Star Wars, Episode VI: Return of the Jedi: As “Luke” (Mark Hamill), “Han Solo” (Harrison Ford), and “Chewbacca” (Peter Mayhew) face execution above the Sarlacc Pit, Luke mounts his escape plan. Just as the heroes seem doomed, the revelation of this Lightsaber hidden inside R2D2 tells the audience that the odds have shifted in the heroes’ favor. R2D2 fires the Lightsaber skyward, Luke catches it, and the Rebels’ escape begins. Several Lightsabers were used in the scene and this particular one is shown in closeup insert shots of R2D2. A more aerodynamic and safer plastic one was fired during the next long shot, and Mark Hamill catches a third “Hero” Lightsaber. Note that the chipped edge along the top rim of the Lightsaber used in closeups matches up with this one. This Lightsaber also has fewer parts than the “hero” version to make it more streamlined for ejection. Comes with a letter of authenticity. Length: 11.75 in.; Diameter: 2 in.
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