The head of C-3PO, used in 1977's Star Wars: Episode 4 - A New Hope, has sold for more than $800,000 at auction.
As reported by the BBC, C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels decided to sell off his personal Star Wars collection, which alongside the C-3PO head also included other bits of the droid, original scripts, and even parts of the iconic Millenium Falcon Daniels saved from a bonfire after filming wrapped on Star Wars: Episode 6 - Return of the Jedi.
The C-3PO head sold for $843,051 at Propstore Auction, though analysts ahead of time expected a potential sale price of up to $1.2 million. This head in particular was one of two damaged C-3PO costumes used for scenes where the droid, alongside Mark Hamill's Luke Skywalker and Kenny Baker's R2-D2, were attacked by the Tusken Raiders. It also featured in the trash compactor comm link scene and the final medal ceremony scene in A New Hope.
Coming directly from Daniels ensured its authenticity, and this is the only complete C-3PO helmet from the original Star Wars film currently in a private collection.
Daniels, as C-3PO, is the only character who has appeared in every mainline Star Wars film to date, and his collection therefore features bits and pieces from all three mainline eras. Other items include a casino chip used by BB-8 in Episode 8 - The Last Jedi, Daniels' handwritten script notes from Episode 2 - Attack of the Clones, and a page from his personal diary where he discusses meeting George Lucas ahead of A New Hope's filming. There are even bits from other Star Wars projects like The Clone Wars animated show.
Star Wars memorabilia regularly attracts a lot of attention (and dollars) at auction, with a lost X-Wing from A New Hope selling for a record-setting $3.135 million at auction in October 2023.
IGN deemed A New Hope the second best Star Wars film behind only Episode 5 - The Empire Strikes Back. The original film also earned third place in IGN's list of the best sci-fi movies of all time.
Image Credit: Propstore Auction
Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelance reporter. He'll talk about The Witcher all day.
