ET: The Extra-Terrestrial puppet is expected to fetch millions on the auction block

The original mechanical model of the adorable alien from the 1982 sci-fi classic ET: The Extra-Terrestrial is going up for auction and the expected asking price is certainly something to ‘phone home’ about. 

The star of the Oscar winning adventure directed by Steven Spielberg is expected to fetch $3 million.

The large doll has 85 points of movement and was operated by a team of 12 puppeteers who controlled the animatronics. 

For sale: The original mechanical model of the adorable alien from the 1982 sci-fi classic ET: The Extra-Terrestrial is going up for auction and the expected asking price is certainly something to ‘phone home’ about

Two little people, plus a young man born without legs, would sit inside the costume to make E.T. appear more lifelike. 

The final product was considered an engineering masterpiece, winning an Best Visual Effects Academy award for Italian designer Carlo Rambaldi and his team. 

ET: The Extra-Terrestrial held on to the number one spot at the box office for 16 nonconsecutive weeks as moviegoers across the US fell in love with the childlike creature who wanted to return to his home planet. 

Millions: The large doll has 85 points of movement and was operated by a team of 12 puppeteers who controlled the animatronics and is expected to fetch $3 million at auction in December

Classic: The 1982 classic held on to the number one spot at the box office for 16 nonconsecutive weeks as moviegoers across the US fell in love with the childlike creature who wanted to return to his home planet

Drew Barrymore, 47, was only five when she starred in the blockbuster about a troubled child who helps a stranded alien return to his home planet.

The talk show host recently held a reunion with her fellow cast members Henry Thomas, 51, (who played her brother Elliott) Robert McNaughton (who played eldest brother Michael and Dee Wallace, 73, (who played the children’s mom Mary.)

During their walk down memory lane Drew, who played Gertie in the film confessed she believed the animated puppet was real. 

Real: Drew Barrymore was five when she made the film and confessed  in a cast reunion on The Drew Barrymore Show that she thought E.T. was real

Sweet story: Dee Wallace, who played the mother in E.T., revealed that director Steven Spielberg instructed two crew members to be at the ready so the puppet would talk to Drew when she approached him

Oscar awards: E.T. won four Oscar awards, including Best Visual Effects for Italian designer Carlo Rambaldi and his team

‘I really loved him in such a profound way.’ she said, ‘Is it like true that, what would happen, because I would go and take lunch to him.’ 

Dee filled in the gaps. ‘We found you over there just talking away to E.T. and so we let Steven know and so Steven from that time on appointed two guys to keep E.T. alive so whenever you came over to talk to him he could react to you.’ 

Henry added: ‘The first thing I remember is that we were on stage and it was quite cold on the stage and you asked the wardrobe lady if you could have a scarf for E.T.’s neck because he was gonna get cold, so you wrapped the scarf around his neck.’ 

Still popular: The film is still popular and has made a total of some $792.9 million to date

More item: Other items such as the original maquette model made for Spielberg to approved the design is headed for dale as are a series of E.T.  blueprint mechanical illustrations

The film is still popular and has made a total of some $792.9 million to date. 

More E.T. memorabilia is set to hit the auction block including the original E.T. maquette model made for Spielberg to approve the design, which is estimated at between $80,000 and $100,000. A series of original E.T. blueprint mechanical illustrations are also estimated at between $10,000 and $20,000 each.

The sale that is part of the  Icons and Idols: Hollywood auction, organized by Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and coincides with the film’s 40th anniversary year. Fans can make bids online at JuliensLive.com 

More otherworldly items will be up for grabs in the sale set for December 17 and 18 in Beverly Hills, including a Nimbus 2000 broom, a Shooting Star prop broom and some costumes from the Harry Potter franchise. 

Auction date: The sale that is part of the Icons and Idols: Hollywood auction, organized by Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and will take place December 17 and 18. Fans can make bids online at JuliensLive.com

Source: | Dailymail.co.uk