Darth Vader's Lightsaber from "The Empire Strikes Back" Breaks "Star Wars" Auction Record with $3.6 Million Sale

Lucasfilm Darth Vader's Hero Lightsaber was among the items for auction on day one of Propstore's Los Angeles Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction on Sept. 4 The item marks the first time in the history ofStar Warsmemorabilia that a verifiably screen-used Vader Hero Lightsaber has ever been available for sale The record-breaking sale speaks to the continuing love for and legacy of the iconic film franchise The first day of an auction celebrating some of the most unforgettable props from television and film history resulted in a record-breaking buy for one luckyStar Warsfan. The first day ofPropstore's Los Angeles Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auctionwas held on Thursday, Sept. 4. The event featured 433 rare and remarkable film and television lots totalling in $14,302,417 of sales (including buyer's premium). Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE's free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The biggest sale of the day came with the much-anticipated sale of Darth Vader's Hero Lightsaber. The duelling lightsaber was used in climactic battles in bothThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi. The listing of the rare screen-used prop from theStar Warsuniverse marks the first time a verifiably screen-used Vader Hero Lightsaber has ever been available for sale. After a pre-sale estimate of $1 million to $3 million, the piece of cinema history sold for $3,654,000, making it the highest-pricedStar Warsitem ever sold at auction. No information has been made public about who purchased the one-of-a-kind prop. In 1995,James Earl Jones, who famously voiced Vader in countlessStar Warsprojects throughout his career, toldConan O'Brienit took him only two and a half hours to record Vader's dialogue for the firstStar Warsmovie,making just $7,000for his contribution at the time. When it came time to makeThe Empire Strikes Back, Jones considered doing something a little different with the villain, but Lucas reminded Jones that if something's not broken, you don't fix it. "He said, 'We don't know what we did right, so let's just try what we did.' Naturally, I wanted to make Darth Vader more interesting, more subtle, more psychologically oriented," Jones told theAFIof Lucas. "And he said, 'No, no. What we're finding out is you need to keep his voice on a very narrow band of inflection because he ain't human, really.' " "If he gets too expressive, he seems too human," Jones told O'Brien. That would explain why Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness) believed Vader was "more machine now than man." Courtesy of Propstore Brandon Alinger, Propstore COO, commented on the first day of the auction, calling the sale a "landmark moment." "Today's result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting. To see aStar Warslightsaber – the symbol of one of cinema's greatest sagas – become the highest-valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special. It speaks to the enduring cultural power ofStar Warsand the passion of fans and collectors who see these artifacts as touchstones of modern mythology," he shared. The Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction continues with more than 600 additional lots available for bidding Sept. 5 and 6. Interested participants can place bidsonlineor by telephone. Read the original article onPeople

Darth Vader's Lightsaber from “The Empire Strikes Back” Breaks “Star Wars” Auction Record with $3.6 Million Sale

Darth Vader's Lightsaber from "The Empire Strikes Back" Breaks "Star Wars" Auction Record with $3.6 Million Sale Luc...
Kurt Russell Joins The 'Yellowstone' Spinoff 'The Madison'New Foto - Kurt Russell Joins The 'Yellowstone' Spinoff 'The Madison'

Yellowstoneaired its (apparently) final episode last year, and barring a surprise renewal forseason six, fans are looking to the next show to join Taylor Sheridan's ranching universe. In August 2024,TVLinerevealed that there was aYellowstonespinoff, tentatively titledThe Madison,in the works. Shortly thereafter, casting announcements helped to flesh out a clearer idea of whatYellowstone's successor will look like. Since then, the pace of news has slowed to a trickle, butYellowstoneexecutive producer Christina Voros, who directed four of the six episodes in the show's final season,did confirmthat much of the flagship series's team has moved on toThe Madison. Speaking toTHRabout rumors of Sheridan's ever-expanding catalogue of shows, Voros said, "The team that I've been working with has moved fromYellowstoneintoThe Madison, so I know that new show is happening and Taylor is excited about writing it." Here's all the latest information onThe Madison: The series announced its star, early on, as none other than Michelle Pfeiffer. "Michelle Pfeiffer is a remarkable talent who imbues every role with emotional depth, authenticity and grace," said Chris McCarthy, the Co-CEO and President of Paramount Global and CEO of Showtime & MTV Entertainment Studios, which will co-produce the series. "She is the perfect anchor to the newest chapter of theYellowstoneuniverse,Madison, from the brilliant mind of Taylor Sheridan." Pfeiffer will also executive produce. In late August 2024, it was revealed that Matthew Fox, known for his work on series likeLostandParty of Five, will play opposite Pfeiffer as Paul, "a self-reliant bachelor who loves the outdoors." Over a year after Fox's involvement was announced, another long-rumored name was added to the cast: Kurt Russell. When news of the show first broke in 2024, Russell was said to be close to signing a deal for the show, though no confirmation of his casting was announced at the time. It's not currently clear what role he will play in the series. Additionally, formerSuitsstar Patrick J. Adams, Elle Chapman, Beau Garrett, Amiah Miller, Kevin Zegers, Rebecca Spence, Alaina Pollack, and Danielle Vasinova have all joined the cast. When asked byTVLinein October 2024 aboutThe Madison's impressive cast, Patrick J. Adams, merely responded, "Yes—and I haveno ideawhat I'm allowed to say about that show, so I'm going to say absolutely nothing except 'yes' to what you just said." Adams will play Russell McIntosh, "a young investment banker who has followed the life path set before him from the start," according to a release announcing the casting. Chapman will play his wife, Paige, "a somewhat self-centered woman who indulges in a luxurious New York lifestyle provided by her parents and investment banker husband," while Garrett will portray Abigail Reese, "a resilient and sardonic New Yorker, who is a recently divorced mother of two." Miller and Pollack will play Abigail's daughters. PerDeadline, Chapman and Garrett's characters will be the daughters of Pfeiffer's character. Outside ofThe Madison's main family, Zegers will play a neighbor named Cade, Spence will play Liliana Weeks, a family friend from New York, and Vasinova will play the Indigenous wife of a local rancher. Yellowstone's original cast membersKelly Reillyand Cole Hauser (who play the show's beloved couple, Beth and Rip) along with co-star Luke Grimes, were all rumored to be in talks to join the project that eventually becameThe Madisonin 2024, however we now know that Reilly and Hauserwill be helming their own spinoffon Paramount+, while Grimes will reprise his role on CBS'sY:Marshals. Despite the fact that the series has been billed as a spinoff, so far, very little information has been revealed as to its connection to the mainYellowstonestoryline. None of the characters (that we know of, at least) fromThe Madisonappeared on screen inYellowstone, nor was the spinoff ranch mentioned. The closest we seemed to get from the flagship's finale was the news that Rip and Beth would be moving to a new ranch outside of Dillon, Montana—near the area known as the Madison Valley, whereThe Madisonis set. In an interview withVarietyfollowingYellowstone's November 2024 season premiere, Voros said of the new show, "It's such a different story. The common ground is the landscape. We are in Montana, but it is seen through a completely different lens, so it feels like another facet of this cut stone that has been polished. There are parallels in the scope of landscape and a human being's place in that space, but it's coming at it from a completely different point of view." The logline for the show explains that the series will be "a heartfelt study of grief and human connection following a New York City family in the Madison River valley of central Montana." While the show has consistently been billed as having a connection toYellowstone, thus far it's not clear exactly how the two series will intersect. Initially it was reported thatThe Madison(which has also operated under the titleMadison) would "follow wealthy matriarch Stacy Clyburn and her family as they leave New York City and head to Montana in the wake of her husband and brother-in-law's tragic deaths in a plane crash." It's not currently clear whether those details remain accurate. Perhaps most notably for fans of creatorTaylor Sheridan's universe ofYellowstoneshows,Varietyhas reported thatThe Madisonis indeed the spinoff previously operating under the working title2024. Pfeiffer was previously expected to star in said seriesalongside Matthew McConaughey, who had been rumored to join the Dutton universefor years. 2024, which was announced along with an additional prequel series1944(following on the heels of Sheridan's Dutton-focused1883and1923) has been the source of speculation since McConaughey was originally rumored to be joining theYellowstoneas far back as February 2023. However, despite the persistent word that the star was in talks for the project, no casting confirmations for him ever materialized. News thatThe Madisonis indeed the renamed2024would seem to indicate that McConaughey (who was said to be growing impatient over protracted contract negotiations) is no longer involved. PerTVLine's previous reporting,TheMadisonwas slated to begin production in August 2024, with filming planned for Montana and New York, as well as Texas. Adams later confirmed in October of that year that the production was in the process of filming in Montana. Since then, there's been no word on the show's status, but the fact that casting was still being announced as of September 2025 suggests that the production schedule has bee protracted. When2024was announced, it was slated to debut following the final installment ofYellowstone's season 5. Given the lack of advance promotion or additional details, it now seems likely that we will not seeThe Madisonuntil 2026 at the earliest. According toDeadlinein September 2025, insiders indicate that the show will receive and early renewal for a second season. It's equally unclear at the moment whether the series will appear on cable via Paramount Network, asYellowstonedid, or if it will be be streaming-first on Paramount+, as with Sheridan's other Dutton spinoffs. We will continue to update this story as more information becomes available. You Might Also Like 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game

Kurt Russell Joins The 'Yellowstone' Spinoff 'The Madison'

Kurt Russell Joins The 'Yellowstone' Spinoff 'The Madison' Yellowstoneaired its (apparently) final episode last year, and ba...
US appeals court voids Biden-era electric vehicle fuel economy ruleNew Foto - US appeals court voids Biden-era electric vehicle fuel economy rule

By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Friday voided a Biden administration-era rule that changed the calculation of the petroleum-equivalent fuel economy of electric vehicles, a victory for 13 Republican state attorneys general who said the rule overstated EVs' efficiency. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis said the Department of Energy exceeded its authority by deciding to phase out during the 2027 to 2030 model years a "fuel content" factor that artificially inflated EV fuel economy, rather than eliminating that factor. Writing for a three-judge panel, Circuit Judge Duane Benton said the department also failed to provide notice of the range of alternatives it was considering when it sought comments for the March 2024 rule, depriving commenters a chance to provide "informed criticism." Petroleum equivalency is used in calculating whether manufacturers meet the Department of Transportation's corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) standards. While the final rule was watered down from an earlier proposal, the Energy Department said keeping the fuel content factor would likely encourage EV production in the near term, while "accelerating the widespread adoption of EVs in the United States during this pivotal time." Led by Iowa, the 13 states and the nonprofit American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce said overstating EVs' efficiency caused harm by allowing manufacturers to produce less-efficient gas-powered vehicles, thereby increasing greenhouse gas emissions, and still meet CAFE standards. They also said encouraging EV sales makes it more costly to maintain roads, because EVs are heavy and cause more wear and tear. Neither the Energy Department nor the office of Iowa Attorney General Brenna Bird immediately responded to requests for comment. Arkansas, Florida, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah also opposed the rule. Oral arguments took place five days before Republican President Donald Trump began his second term. The case is Iowa et al. v. Wright et al., 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, No. 24-1721. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New YorkEditing by Rod Nickel)

US appeals court voids Biden-era electric vehicle fuel economy rule

US appeals court voids Biden-era electric vehicle fuel economy rule By Jonathan Stempel (Reuters) -A U.S. appeals court on Friday voided a B...
Coast Guard seizes huge haul of cocaine, releases image of burning boatNew Foto - Coast Guard seizes huge haul of cocaine, releases image of burning boat

The U.S.Coast Guard saysit has seized over 40,000 pounds of cocaine in the Eastern Pacific Ocean over the last month as part of boosted counter-drug operations. More than a dozen interceptions since Aug. 8 led to the drug seizures as well as the apprehension of 36 suspected drug smugglers, the Coast Guard said in a news release Thursday. The actions took place through Operation Pacific Viper, which the Coast Guard hasdescribedas "a surge in forces to the Eastern Pacific to stop the cartels and criminal organizations - cutting off drugs and human smuggling before it reaches American shores." The Eastern Pacific sees "significant transport" of illicit narcotics from South America, the Coast Guard says. The federal agency, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, released multiple images of recent operations. One picture shows crew members keeping watch over a burning vessel that was intercepted in the Eastern Pacific Ocean in mid-August, the Coast Guard says. Officials did not indicate why the boat was on fire. Counter-drug operations have also been heightened in the Caribbean Sea, where the U.S. military recently carried out a"lethal strike"on a drug-carrying boat hailing from Venezuela, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said. Coast Guard interceptions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean Sea recently resulted in arecord cocaine haulthat had "enough to fatally overdose the entire population of Florida," the Coast Guard said. In that haul, the Coast Guard last week offloaded over 38 tons of cocaine and marijuana in Fort Lauderdale — the largest cocaine offload in Coast Guard history, officials said. The Coast Guard says that with Operation Pacific Viper, it is coordinating with international and interagency partners to have assets like cutters, aircraft and tactical teams disrupt illicit drug shipments. U.S. deploying 10 fighter jets to Puerto Rico in drug cartel crackdown Chicago-area Navy base to be used for immigration operations Chemist breaks down concerns over gel nail polish as EU bans ingredient

Coast Guard seizes huge haul of cocaine, releases image of burning boat

Coast Guard seizes huge haul of cocaine, releases image of burning boat The U.S.Coast Guard saysit has seized over 40,000 pounds of cocaine ...
"South Park "tackles Labubu craze, has President Trump impregnate Satan

Comedy Central/South Park Studios In its 27th season,South Parkcontinues to take shots atDonald Trump— and this week, it tied the president's fictional relationship with Satan to the recent Labubu craze. The September 3 episode, "Wok is Dead," begins with two South Park Elementary students showing each other their new Labubu dolls. Seeing this, Cartman runs to alert his friends: "Guys! Girls with Labubus! It's about to happen again!" And by "it" he means a knock-down, drag-out brawl. While the girls' conversation starts off fine, with each one cooing over how the Labubus are "seriously SO cute," things quickly sour when one girl suggests that the other's "really rare" Labubu might be (gasp!) a knock-off. With that, the fists and the profanity start flying. The girls are sent to the office, where the counselor — Jesus Christ — makes the girls leave their dolls in his office until the end of the school day. Later, at a school administration meeting, Jesus and colleagues watch a Labubu unboxing video made by one of the students, which ends with her sacrificing a chicken in a Satanic ritual after learning her box contained a rare Labubu. The teachers are unfazed, but Jesus is horrified and determines to rid South Park of the cursed plushies. Meanwhile, the President returns from his international tariff summit with Satan in tow. On the tarmac, he takes questions from the press pool, including a Fox News reporter who wants to know if he's "f---ing Satan." Trump denies it, and the Prince of Darkness claims he and the President are "just sorta hanging out." Fox News refuses to drop the story, and continues reporting on Trump and Satan's relationship. Comedy Central/South Park Studios It all culminates at a birthday party for Red, who is thrilled when her boyfriend, Butters, brings her the exact Labubu she wanted as a gift. Immediately, she and the rest of the girls at the party run upstairs to perform a demonic Labubu ritual — which ends up summoning both Satan and President Trump himself. As black clouds and swarms of locusts descend upon the town of South Park, Jesus arrives at Red's house and orders Satan to leave. The Prince of Darkness announces that while he is desperate for a way out of his relationship with the President, he is inextricably "bound" to Trump for a very shocking reason: "I want to leave him, but I can't, because... I'm pregnant!" Comedy Central/South Park Studios Sign up forEntertainment Weekly's free daily newsletterto get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. The episode ends with Fox News anchors celebrating on air, and Jesus announcing that he's banning Labubus, cell phones, and TikTok from school. After South Park's season 27 premiere, which depicted President Trump and his tiny penis in bed with Satan,White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers lashed outat the show, saying it "hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention." South Parkis now streaming on Paramount+. Read the original article onEntertainment Weekly

“South Park ”tackles Labubu craze, has President Trump impregnate Satan

"South Park "tackles Labubu craze, has President Trump impregnate Satan Comedy Central/South Park Studios In its 27th season,South...

 

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