• The mechatronic model that brought film’s favorite extraterrestrial to life finally hit the block with Julien’s Auctions in Beverly Hills this weekend under their semi-annual “Icons and Idols: Hollywood” sale. Turner Classic Movies helped curate the two-day event’s whopping 1,300 lots.
• This vintage machine animated the alien protagonist of Steven Spielberg’s E.T. (1982), and led the whole affair at a high estimate of $3 million. It ultimately went for $2.56 million.
• “Nothing like this model will ever be created for a major motion picture again as it is just not practical in an era of such convincing computer-generated effects,” the auction house’s Chief Operating Officer Jason DeBord told Artnet News before the sale.
• A 3D rendering of the contraption accompanied its purchase, minted as an NFT in a collaboration between the estate of famed special effects master Carlo Rimbaldi along with Julien’s and Web3 platform TINAM.

Tagged: Hollywood