Two key props fromStar Wars: A New Hopehave found new buyers, and the price was outrageous. It has been nearly 50 years since the originalStar Warsmovie debuted in theaters in 1977, but the franchise has not lost its cultural influence. There are nearly a dozenupcomingStar Warsfilmsin development, andAndorseason 2 will be premiering on April 22.Ahsokaseason 2 is also in active development, though no release date has been announced. The franchise has not had a theatrical release since 2019’sThe Rise of Skywalker, but it still remains fairly prominent.
Even the props continue to prove the franchise’s popularity. According to a report bySky News, props from the original movie were key elements in a recent public auction. Though it was initially appraised at $250,000 and $500,000,Chewbacca’sA New Hopebowcaster sold for $768,600, despite having been modified over the years. That prop’s price certainly exceeded expectations, but Luke Skywalker’s medal, which was expected to sell for between $300,000 and $600,000, had a far more appropriate estimate, asiteventually sold for $378,000.
Why These Items From A New Hope Are Worth So Much
They Are Iconic Elements Of The Franchise
Luke’s medal comes from an important aspect ofA New Hope’s story, as it was a moment of catharsis for viewers and acknowledged hiscontributions to the Rebel cause. It wasalso mired in controversy,because Chewbacca’s exclusion from the medal ceremony has drawn criticism from viewers since 1977. Additionally, Chewbacca’s bowcaster is an especially coveted prop, as it is the chosen weapon of a popular character, who has been an enduring part of the franchise since his introduction. Unlike a medal, which can easily be replicated, it also has a complicated design that drew more interest at the auction.
These items came from props master Gerard Bourke’s collection.
At the core, these props were expensive because they wereintegral artifacts of a franchisethat has endured for 48 years.TheStar Warsuniversehas been a standout in pop culture sinceA New Hope’s release, so buyers were hoping to purchase a piece of that history. The seller also benefited from the fact that this was an auction. With various buyers raising the bid after each offer, the price would inevitably skyrocket, especially since it was open to the public.
There’s An Irony To The Value Of These Items
George Lucas Did Not Spend Much For Them
While these items collectively sold for over $1 million, the original cost of the props was extremely limited.Star Wars: A New Hopehad a budget of just $11 million ($60 million today). For a space opera, that is a remarkably low cost, which is why Lucas depended on creating props out of scraps. Chewbacca’s bowcaster, for instance, was an actual crossbow that was simply repurposed and modified to better suit a science-fiction story. While these items may have been massive draws at a public auction, they were originally justcobbled together from whatever the crew could find.
