A rare original model of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial is up for auction at Sotheby’s in New York. Created by legendary special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi, this cinematic icon is expected to fetch up to $900,000.
An original model of E.T., created for Steven Spielberg’s cult classic E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, is going under the hammer at Sotheby’s auction house. The piece comes from the personal collection of Italian special effects legend Carlo Rambaldi, who won three Academy Awards for his work on David Lynch’s Dune, Spielberg’s Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and the 1976 version of King Kong directed by John Guillermin.
Standing just over a meter tall, the model is one of three used by Spielberg for the 1982 film. It’s estimated to sell for between $600,000 and $900,000. "This model represents the craftsmanship of a bygone era, before the dominance of computer-generated effects. It’s a nostalgic symbol of Hollywood history," says Cassandra Hatton from Sotheby’s.
A fully articulated E.T. puppet used in the film was previously sold at auction by Julien’s and Turner Classic Movies for $2.6 million (2.45 million euros) in December 2022.
A separate E.T. maquette was also sold for $125,000 (117,000 euros).
Once E.T.’s look was finalized, Carlo Rambaldi designed several torsos and heads for the extraterrestrial.
The character was engineered to perform 150 different movements, including raising his eyebrows and extending his neck. Other items from Rambaldi’s collection are also featured in the auction, including two sandworm models from David Lynch’s Dune.
The online auction runs until April 3.
With AFP
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