There are few movie props that draw as much attention as Star Wars memorabilia. On Saturday, Han Solo’s Blaster from 1983’s Return of the Jedi was auctioned for a whopping $550,000.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not bought the item at the Hollywood Legends auction at Planet Hollywood casino-resort in Las Vegas, reported the Associated Press.
The Blaster was the number-one selling item at the auction. U.S. art director James L. Schoppe, who worked on Jedi, previously owned the prop.
Another Blaster from the film, used by an Imperial Scout Trooper in the film, sold for $90,625.
Another notable piece from the auction was Christopher Reeve’s costume from Superman III. It sold for $200,000—much more than was expected. The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation benefited from the sale of a black wool dress worn by Marilyn Monroe. It fetched $50,000 at the auction.
The sale of Han Solo’s Blaster is welcome news, particularly considering the latest film in the franchise, Solo: A Star Wars Story was a huge disappointment at the box office. Following its poor performance in theatres, there were rumours that the studio would halt production on future, standalone films that took place outside the regular trilogy.
Last week, Lucasfilm sources told ABC News that reports about upcoming Star Wars movies outside of the trilogy storyline being put on hold were “inaccurate.” Lucasfilm noted that the studio had “multiple” Star Wars films in development but has yet to reveal what their plans are.
Meanwhile, Star Wars: The Last Jedi director Rian Johnson is working on a different Star Wars trilogy, and Game of Thrones producers David Benioff and D.B. Weiss are helming yet another series of Star Wars films.
Star Wars: Episode IX, starring Daisy Ridley, John Boyega, and Oscar Isaac, is scheduled to open in theatres in December 2019.
