Darth Vader's lightsaber, used in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, will be auctioned off at Propstore in Los Angeles in September 2025. This is the first so-called hero prop of a lightsaber from the original Star Wars trilogy to go on public sale, The Hollywood Reporter reports.
A hero prop is a highly detailed prop used for close-ups or important moments in a film. It is usually the most elaborate and expensive of the other versions of the prop, which may be less detailed (for background scenes or stunts, for example).
The sword belonged to actors David Prowse and stuntman Bob Anderson. It is expected to fetch between $1 million and $3 million. The sale will take place as part of the Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, which coincides with the 45th anniversary of the release of the second film in the saga.
The sword will go on a pre-sale tour in London, New York and Beverly Hills before being auctioned in August 2025. The tour will also feature Harrison Ford's whip and belt from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, the neutralizer from Men in Black and Sauron's helmet from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Earlier, in 2022, Propstore sold an on-screen model of an X-wing fighter for over $2.3 million.
