A screen-used Darth Vader lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi is about to hit the auction block, and it’s got fanboys foaming at the mouth. According to AllThatsInteresting.com, the prop was used by David Prowse (aka the body of Vader) and his stunt double Bob Anderson in actual scenes — this isn’t some theme park knockoff. This “hero” version, meaning it was actually filmed in close-up shots, is expected to fetch somewhere between $1 and $3 million. So yes, it’s expensive… but still cheaper than Governor Polis’ masturbatory “Bridge to Me” boondoggle.
The Bullet Point Brief
- This Ain’t No Replica: The saber’s the real deal, screen-used and scarred from actual filming, wielded by the man-mountain in the black cape and his stunt double. Cue the heavy breathing.
- Auction Block Bound: It’s being sold by Propstore at a massive entertainment memorabilia auction this September in Los Angeles. Nerd wallets, prepare for slaughter.
- Rare as Hell: This specific lightsaber is considered the only known “hero” prop from the original trilogy that’s verified for screen use. Translation: It’s the holy grail for people who think Comic-Con is a religious pilgrimage.
- Pre-Sale World Tour: The saber will flex its force across London, New York, and Beverly Hills before it lands in LA. Basically, it’s doing a bigger press tour than most politicians.
- Estimated Price Tag: Expected to sell for between $1–3 million, which in California gets you a shoebox apartment — or in Colorado, a taxpayer-funded bridge to Jared Polis’ ego.
My Bottom Line
Some rich Star Wars nut is about to drop up to $3 million on a glorified flashlight with daddy issues — and yet I still think they’re getting a better deal than Colorado taxpayers. At least the saber lights up. Polis’ “Bridge to Me” project is supposed to connect downtown Denver to some underutilized space, but let’s be real: it mostly connects us to a giant tab and absolutely zero ROI. Vader’s saber? Iconic. Polis’ bridge? Ironic. One is a relic of cinematic history; the other is a monument to progressive vanity projects that cost more than Death Star maintenance.
