The Miniature and Cinema Museum of Lyon announced this Saturday, May 4, the acquisition of the original helmet worn by the character Darth Vader in “The Empire Strikes Back” (1980).
On the occasion of this Saturday, May 4, World Star Wars Saga Day, the Musée Miniature et Cinéma de Lyon announced the acquisition of the original helmet worn by the character of Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back (1980). It will be presented in the museum’s permanent collection from June 15, 2024.
The helmet of this famous antagonist was designed by Ralph McQuarrie, whose drawings served as the basis for the creation of the costume. He was then sculpted by Brian Muir, who also did the character’s armor.
“The concept aimed to incorporate medieval and futuristic elements while giving Vader an authoritative appearance. The helmet, in particular, is inspired by samurai helmets and different iconographies from fantasy and science fiction, giving it a aesthetic simultaneously ancient and modern,” explains the museum on its website.
A masterclass on June 15
This helmet, kept as a souvenir by one of the technicians who worked on the film, passed from owner to owner before the latest wanted to share it with the Musée Miniature et Cinéma de Lyon.
Alongside the helmet, the original DL-44 blaster of the character Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford, from the opus The force awakens (2015), was also acquired by the institution. This piece is on display from this Saturday, May 4.
On June 15, a masterclass with Brian Muir, the sculptor, will be offered on the occasion of the official entry of the accessory into the museum’s permanent collection. The latter already includes important pieces from the saga, such as Princess Leia’s original costume in Return of the Jedi (1983) and several Ewok costumes and makeup.
Clement Boutin Journalist BFMTV
