It was last seen standing at the entrance to a spaceship with a potted plant of chrysanthemums, its chest glowing bright red as it stared down at the tearful young boy on the ground below.
Now, the original body model of ET, the Extra-Terrestial, is expected to fetch up to $1m (£700,000) when it is sold at Sotheby’s auction house at in April.
The 3ft tall model was one of three used in the 1982 film, directed by Steven Spielberg, which won four Oscars. It comes directly from the collection of the film’s Oscar-winning special effects artist, the late Carlo Rambaldi, who also worked on King Kong and Alien.
His daughter Daniela Rambaldi said: “We are truly honoured to collaborate with Sotheby’s and deeply grateful for this opportunity to bring my father’s work to auction.
“We hope that the artefacts being offered will bring immense joy to those who will cherish them in the years to come, just as they have brought great emotions to my family and shaped the magic of my childhood.
“These iconic pieces hold a special place in our hearts, and it is our sincere wish that they continue to inspire and captivate future generations.”
The model, estimated to be worth between $600,000 and $900,000, is being sold as part of the Sotheby’s auction, There are Such Things: 20th Century Horror, Science Fiction and Fantasy on Screen.
The auction has items such as costumes, props and posters from the early 1930s through until the end of the century.
Sketches and design work from ET are also being sold, along with two screen-used sandworm models from David Lynch’s science fiction film Dune.
Rambaldi won two Academy Awards for visual effects on ET and Alien and also a Special Achievement gong for his work on King Kong.
The appearance of the model is said to have been inspired by a range of different sources, including the eyes of Albert Einstein, Ernest Hemingway, Carl Sandburg and the Rambaldi family’s cat.
Cassandra Hatton, Sotheby’s vice-chair, said Rimbaldi’s “meticulous craftsmanship behind icons such as ET, the sandworms of David Lynch’s Dune and King Kong, remains a testament to the magic of practical effects”.
“This model embodies the artistry of an era before CGI took hold, a nostalgic and iconic piece of Hollywood history as captivating as the stories themselves,” she added.
The Sotheby’s auction opens for bidding on 21 March and closes on 3 April.
