A piece of cinematic history is up for auction, with the E.T. model from Steven Spielberg’s 1982 film expected to command a significant price. The model, featured in the film’s closet scene, is part of a collection from the estate of special effects artist Carlo Rambaldi.
Rambaldi, known for his work on films such as “King Kong,” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind,” and “Alien,” created the E.T. model, which measures 17 x 36 x 12 inches. The prop, constructed with an aluminum frame, latex, foam, straw, acrylic paint, and adhesive, was designed to appear as if E.T. was attempting to blend in with stuffed animals.
The auction house notes that Spielberg’s vision for E.T. was not that of a monster, and Rambaldi’s design was based on reference images provided by the director. Spielberg sought to incorporate elements from figures like Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway, and Carl Sandburg into E.T.’s appearance.
Rambaldi and his team produced four full-scale working models of E.T., capable of 86 different movements through animatronics, mechatronics, and puppetry. An original animatronic model sold for $2.6 million at a previous auction.
Bidding for the current E.T. model is now open, with a minimum bid of $500,000. The auction will conclude on April 3rd.
The fate of the E.T. model after the auction remains uncertain. Potential uses range from museum display to more unconventional scenarios.
