A rare Darth Vader costume will lead Christie’s sale of Popular Culture: Film and Entertainment at South Kensington in London on November 25. It is expected to realise £160,000 to £230,000.One of the most recognisable and infamous characters in the history of film, Darth Vader played a central role in the story of Star Wars, the epic film series made by George Lucas.
Acquired by the present owner in 2003 the main components of this costume, including the helmet and mask, are considered to have been production-made for The Empire Strikes Back, the second film of the Star Wars series. The provenance leads back to the film studios around the time of production in 1980.
The Empire Strikes Back is one of the most highly rated films in history. It took in more than $538 million worldwide over the original run and several re-releases, and was the highest grossing film of 1980. The epic space opera has proved enduringly popular and spawned a number of video and computer games for new generations of fans.
The vendor will donate a percentage of the proceeds to benefit Cancer Research UK.
UPDATE: THE Darth Vader costume failed to sell.
