After an unfortunate plane crash, Tom Hanks’ character Chuck Noland is stuck on a desert island for four years in one of the film’s most iconic moments. To cope with his mental state, Noland seeks a volleyball companion. He names it Wilson by putting a face on the ball that is represented by a bloody handprint.
To stay sane, Noland constantly speaks to the ball throughout the film. The cinematic prop volleyball used by Tom Hanks was recently auctioned off by Prop Store. Wilson was originally expected to sell for a maximum of $80,000 USD. However, it outperformed auction predictions and sold for more than $311,000 USD or £230,000 GBP.
The item has been highly damaged. It has paint that has been applied to make the ball appear worn and dirty. The thick brown mark is the red “face” of the Wilson, and it is Noland’s bloody handprint. “Wilson was placed in water for long periods during filming. Therefore, the overall shape of the ball warped slightly, and the facial detailing became somewhat blurred compared to shots earlier in the film.” It also bears a “dark brown-and-red ‘face’ on the front,” and “the top is torn open, and an array of tobacco stalks are inserted to replicate the appearance of hair”.
