PEOPLE recently spoke with Dan Lanigan about The Saga Vault, the extraordinary collectors featured in the series, and the vision behind The Saga Museum.
PEOPLE Goes Inside The Saga Vault with Dan Lanigan
PEOPLE recently sat down with filmmaker, producer and lifelong collector Dan Lanigan to explore The Saga Vault, the new Cinema Relics series showcasing extraordinary Star Wars memorabilia and the collectors who have dedicated their lives to preserving it.
The feature takes readers inside Dan’s own collecting journey, which began with Kenner toys and Star Wars magazines when he was seven years old. It also reveals the one artifact that has eluded him for three decades: an original stop-motion AT-AT model used in The Empire Strikes Back.
But as Dan explains, The Saga Vault is about much more than finding the rarest or most valuable object.
“Ultimately what you’re doing is you’re collecting history,” Dan told PEOPLE.
Each episode brings together some of the world’s leading Star Wars collectors to share remarkable pieces from their collections. Just as importantly, they share the searches, friendships and personal connections that give those objects meaning.
The series features collectors connected to The Saga Museum, including Steve Sansweet, Gus Lopez and Lisa Stevens, along with Vic Wertz, Duncan Jenkins, Jimmy Mac and other special guests. Their collections span decades of Star Wars history, from original production materials and vintage toys to international artifacts and unexpected pieces of popular culture.
From Private Collections to a Museum for Everyone
The PEOPLE feature also highlights the vision behind The Saga Museum.
Individually, the Museum’s founders have assembled some of the most significant Star Wars collections in the world. Together, their collections can become something even greater: a shared resource where fans, families and future generations can experience the history, creativity and global cultural influence of Star Wars.
The goal is to establish a permanent museum that brings these collections together and uses the objects within them to inspire learning, curiosity and discovery.
The Saga Vault offers an early look at that vision. Every artifact opens a door to a larger story about filmmaking, design, technology, art, commerce and the community that has grown around Star Wars for nearly 50 years.
We are grateful to PEOPLE for recognizing Dan, the collectors and the mission behind the series.
Read the PEOPLE Feature
Watch The Saga Vault
New episodes are available on the Cinema Relics YouTube channel. Watch, cast your vote for the episode’s winning artifact and subscribe to keep opening the Vault.