E.T. himself will be available for purchase in an auction this December

E.T. – the Extra-Terrestrial became a generation-defining film for famed director Steven Spielberg and when the movie came out, merchandise was everywhere and a little E.T. doll became a hot item for kids. This December, for those that have wanted the actual Extra-Terrestrial himself will have the chance to purchase him. If you are in the Beverly Hills area, you can attend in-person, but everyone else will also be able to make a bid online.

The Hollywood Reporter has the news on the auction block for the mechatronic model used on-set to perform for the camera in the 80s blockbuster. An event called Icons & Idols: Hollywood from Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies will be auctioning off the model as well as other film items. The featured E.T. item is labeled the “No. 1” model for the mechatronic puppet used to bring the alien being to life as it features 85 points of movement and is regarded as an engineering masterpiece, and valued at $2 million to $3 million.

The executive director of Julien’s, Martin Nolan, shares his excitement, saying, “We could not be more honored than to work with the family of Carlo Rambaldi, caretakers of one of the most incredible pop culture figures in the history of Hollywood — E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Rambaldi was a pioneer in the field, and his artistry brought unreal characters to life in a way that has never been replicated with modern-day visual effects.”

According to THR, “Among the items also up for bidding are three dresses worn by Marilyn Monroe (estimate: $40,000 to $80,000); the Oscar trophy presented to Phantom of the Opera cinematographer W. Howard Greene in 1944 ($80,000 to $100,000); Charlton Heston’s original Moses “Holy Staff” from The Ten Commandments ($40,000 to $60,000); Everlast boxing gloves and shorts worn by Robert De Niro in Raging Bull ($30,000 to $50,000); an original Nimbus 2000 broom belonging to Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone ($80,000 to $100,000); and other props from TitanicRockyThe Phantom MenaceAlien and Captain America: The First Avenger.”

The auction will take place at Julien’s in Beverly Hills and online at JuliensAuctions.com on December 17 and 18.

Source: THR

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E.J. is a News Editor at JoBlo, as well as a Video Editor, Writer, and Narrator for some of the movie retrospectives on our JoBlo Originals YouTube channel, including Reel Action, Revisited and some of the Top 10 lists. He is a graduate of the film program at Missouri Western State University with concentrations in performance, writing, editing and directing.