All wings report in! The legendary Red Leader X-Wing model used in Star Wars: A New Hope, originally believed to be lost, has found a new home. The model of the iconic starfighter has officially sold for over $3 million this weekend. But who is the lucky new owner of the rare Star Wars relic?
Back in August, Heritage Auctions announced that they are auctioning items from the late Hollywood visual effects artist Greg Jein’s collection. The most prized thing in the collection is the Red Leader X-Wing starfighter, which was initially used during the climactic trench run in the Battle of Yavin in A New Hope. What makes it even more remarkable is that the model was thought to be lost but turned out to be one of Greg Jein’s most treasured items. Since its discovery, the starfighter would be auctioned off, and bidding started at a whopping $400,000.
Who Bought the Star Wars Red Leader X-Wing?
The starting bid did little to dissuade people from bidding on the legendary item. Heritage Auctions kept people updated on their official X account, revealing that the starfighter model quickly flew past $2 million. They later confirmed that the Red Wing X-Wing was finally sold for an astounding $3,135,000.
JUST NOW 🚨$3,135,000. That's the final on the screen-matched "Red Leader" (Red One) X-wing Starfighter Filming Miniature. pic.twitter.com/HEj5tTSpvT
— Heritage Auctions (@HeritageAuction) October 15, 2023
So, who will take home a fantastic part of Star Wars history? Heritage Auction has not disclosed the identity of the bidder. However, it’s clear that the Red One X-Wing’s new owner is a happy (and extremely wealthy) collector who will surely treasure the item.
What Happened to the Red Leader X-Wing Model?
The starfighter model’s journey from garage to auction house is one that Star Wars fans know all too well. It was even part of the legend as it was believed to have been lost in history after Industrial Light & Magic (ILM) moved from California’s San Fernando Valley to the San Francisco Bay Area in 1978. Several hero models were unfortunately lost during this time, but the late Greg Jein somehow saved the Red Leader X-Wing.
Interestingly, Greg Jein himself didn’t work on A New Hope. He worked as a modelmaker on Close Encounters of the Third Kind in 1977, and his team was nominated for an Academy Award that year, but they lost out to… you guessed it, Star Wars. Despite all this, Jein appreciated the works of his competition and would go on to acquire a few items from ILM.
After Jein’s passing in May 2022, his friends discovered his collection in Jein’s garage. The exhibition included an original Stormtrooper costume from the first Star Wars film, which fetched an impressive $645,000. Additionally, a spacesuit from Stanley Kubrick’s 1968 masterpiece 2001: A Space Odyssey was sold for $447,000. A utility belt from the 1960s Batman television series starring Adam West also found a new owner, selling for $36,250.
A miniature X-wing Starfighter used in 1977 a “Star Wars” film sold for over $3 million at auction in Dallas over the weekend. The X-wing was part of an auction of items that the late Hollywood model maker Greg Jein both collected and created. https://t.co/awhj3mJBUE
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 17, 2023
However, the centerpiece of Jein’s collection was undoubtedly the Red Leader X-Wing model because of its rarity and the amazing story it had within Star Wars lore. It is a rare gem among only four hero-filming miniatures that feature servo-controlled wings and illuminating lights.
- The starfighter model was meticulously crafted to capture close-up shots and played a pivotal role in A New Hope‘s climactic trench run scene.
- The “missing X-Wing” holds exceptional significance within the Star Wars universe. The “Red Leader” or “Red One” was masterfully designed by ILM for its iconic appearance in A New Hope.
The X-wing was helmed by the character Garven Dreis, who led the Red Squadron during the crucial Battle of Yavin. In A New Hope, the character of Dreis was portrayed by the late actor Drewe Henley, and he later made a reappearance in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.
