Iconic Movie Props and Costumes from Iron Man, Harry Potter, Star Wars, and More to Be Auctioned in Beverly Hills

Iconic movie props from some of Hollywood’s most popular franchises, including Iron Man, Harry Potter, and Star Wars, will be up for auction at the Legends: Hollywood And Royalty event. Taking place in Beverly Hills, California, this prestigious auction, organised by Julien’s Auctions in collaboration with Turner Classic Movies (TCM), will celebrate Warner Bros.’ 100th anniversary. The event will showcase over 1,400 rare and valuable items, ranging from costumes worn by Hollywood legends to beloved film props.

Among the stand-out lots is the fibreglass Iron Man helmet worn by Robert Downey Jr. in Iron Man 3. The helmet, featuring glowing blue-white eyes, is expected to fetch between $50,000 and $70,000 (£38,880 to £54,436). Other Marvel Cinematic Universe treasures include Ryan Reynolds’ Deadpool mask and Chris Evans’ Captain America shield, both of which are also expected to draw high bids.

Fans of the Harry Potter series will have the chance to bid on wands used by the film’s stars, including Michael Gambon, Ralph Fiennes, Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson. The wands, which appeared in various films like Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, are expected to sell for between $5,000 and $60,000 (£3,883 to £46,600), depending on the wand’s significance.

Other highlights from the auction include Princess Leia’s costume from Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (estimated at $20,000 to $30,000), Han Solo’s blaster, and an iconic Starfleet officer’s jacket worn by William Shatner as Captain Kirk in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (expected to fetch between $100,000 and $200,000).

In addition, memorabilia from classic Hollywood stars such as Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall will be available for the first time, including their 14k gold wedding rings and a heart-shaped locket inscribed with a romantic message from Bogart.

The auction will also feature props from films like Alien, James Bond, Stranger Things, and Game of Thrones, including Peter Dinklage’s Tyrion Lannister battle axe and Kit Harington’s Jon Snow dagger.

The Legends: Hollywood and Royalty auction will be held both online and at a live event in Beverly Hills from September 6 to 8. It promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for collectors and fans to own a piece of cinematic history.

The Cannibal Mockumentary Struggles to Deliver Its Message Amid Shock Value

In an era dominated by ‘deep fakes’ and AI technology like ChatGPT, distinguishing reality from fiction has become increasingly challenging. So, when we turn on the TV and see Gregg Wallace, familiar from his role on shows like Inside The Factory, touring a factory while sporting a hairnet, we instinctively expect an informative yet light-hearted look at food production. But Channel 4’s The British Miracle Meat leaves viewers questioning the very nature of what they’re watching.

The premise is as absurd as it is shocking: Wallace drives his Range Rover to a factory called Good Harvest, a “disruptor” in the meat industry, claiming to sell human-harvested meat at just 99p per cut. As Wallace introduces us to this fictional meat producer, everything seems normal at first. The setting is convincingly real – Wallace’s Range Rover is real, the factory in Boston, Lincolnshire, seems plausible, and the lab-coated production manager, Mick, looks the part. But then things take a bizarre turn: Mick oversees a “nutrient vat” where human flesh is cultivated into large steaks. That’s when the viewer hits ‘pause’ and wonders, “Hold on… are we watching an actual meat factory or something far darker?”

The mockumentary’s tone is strikingly similar to Wallace’s former BBC series Inside The Factory, which expertly presented mundane food production processes with humour and a bit of charm. Here, the same elements of lightheartedness – upbeat music, cod-science explanations, and Wallace’s typical over-the-top enthusiasm – are present. Yet, as the production reveals that human flesh is now a commodity, the programme’s true nature slowly dawns: a satirical commentary on modern society.

The show takes a sharp jab at current political issues with lines like Mick’s claim that eating humans is a “benefit of Brexit,” suggesting that now the UK is out of the EU, harvesting people’s flesh for profit is somehow legal. This, alongside a bizarre moment when Michel Roux Jr. (a guest chef) discusses the “terroir” of human meat, adds layers of dark comedy.

Despite its initially promising satire, the mockumentary begins to lose its punch as it progresses. The narrative takes us to a clinic where “donors” are willing to sell their flesh, driven by the financial pressures of the cost-of-living crisis. The visual of a poster reading “We’re All In This Together” serves as an obvious nod to the socio-political subtext, but by this point, the satire feels forced. While it’s clear that the creators are attempting to make a statement about wealth disparity, the meat industry, or the government’s handling of the crisis, the show becomes muddled in its intent.

Ultimately, The British Miracle Meat struggles to land its critical blow. The exaggerated premise, while shocking, becomes increasingly hollow as it teeters between satire and grotesque spectacle. The show’s commentary on issues like the meat industry, consumer culture, and political apathy is apparent but never fully developed, leaving the viewer with more questions than answers. The real target of the satire – whether it’s the government, the meat industry, or the public’s passive consumption of media – remains unclear, making the show a spectacle that leaves viewers hungry for a sharper critique.