A lightsaber wielded by Darth Vader in two iconic Star Wars films has fetched nearly US$5 million at an auction in the United States, setting a new record for the franchise’s movie memorabilia.
German news agency dpa reported that Heritage Auctions announced the sale in a press release on Thursday.
The auction house said the price was the highest ever achieved worldwide for a prop from a Star Wars film.
The weapon was used by Darth Vader, the iconic villain portrayed by David Prowse, in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983).
According to Heritage Auctions, the lightsaber bears visible signs of use, including tears and scratches, indicating that it had been used during filming.
Star Wars, created by screenwriter, producer and director George Lucas, is one of the most successful film franchises in cinema history.
The first instalment, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, was released in cinemas in 1977.
