Scottish Star Wars superfan's dream comes true after coming to the rescue of hit show
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A SCOTTISH Star Wars megafan's dreams came true after film bosses bought thousands of pounds worth of props for a new TV show.
Lifelong Jedi-lover Carl Morenikeji, 56, has been a fan of the galactic franchise since he saw the first film in the 1970s.
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Carl Morenikeji runs a props business in Fife called Scaramanga
Credit: Andrew Barr
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The Fife business has been used for some big budget films
Credit: Andrew Barr
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Padlocks and luggage are a speciality with many of his pieces appearing in major film and TV productions
Credit: Andrew Barr
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He is a Star Wars superfan
Credit: ASM Media
Carl, who runs the Scaramanga vintage prop company in Cupar, Fife, has been supplying props for several Hollywood blockbusters, from James Bond to Harry Potter.
But it has always been his dream to be called upon to provide items for his favourite franchise.
So he couldn't believe his luck when a buyer placed the biggest ever order for the new Star Wars show Andor.
Season two of the show premieres on streaming site Disney+ today and follows thief turned rebel spy Cassian Andor.
Telly chiefs forked out £9,000 to buy 194 props for the show which Carl will be looking out for when he sits down to watch the show in what is a dream come true.
Carl said: "It really is a dream come true. I was thinking a number of years ago it would be really great to have Star Wars feature some of our items.
'Here we are a handful of years later and they've placed our biggest order ever. So we are really excited.
'We had a phone call from one of our regular props buyers. She'd been buying from us for the last 10 years. She said she was working on a film and she wanted some old metal items for the second series of a Sci-Fi show.
'I asked if it was Andor and she confirmed it was. So she sent us a list.
'We replied back with a list of what we had along with photos and prices. She placed an order and then she placed another order and another order and another order.
Watch the trailer for the new A24 war film set in 2006 Iraq
'Yeah, 194 items later and almost £9,000 in terms of sales, they placed a huge order with us.'
Carl fell in love with Star Wars after seeing 1977's A New Hope in his local cinema in South London. He has seen every single film and TV show in the universe.
He added: 'It was the first science fiction film I'd ever seen and I thought it was amazing - seeing creatures from other worlds, droids, space battles and rebels fighting against an evil empire.
'I remember my brother and I duelling with blue and red light-up light sabres for years afterwards. That's where my passion for the franchise began. Since then, I've seen all the films, spin off-shows and cartoon versions, too.'
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He entered the prop business in 2011
Credit: Andrew Barr
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His padlocks were used in a James Bond film
Credit: Andrew Barr
He has even passed on his love of the franchise through the generations, with his son Josh, 16, and daughter Ella also Star Wars superfans.
Carl said: My son Josh, when he was younger, used to collect vintage Star Wars figures.
'Him and my daughter Ella, 14, when they were younger, we used to go to Comic Con conventions and they used to dress up as Star Wars characters.'
Carl's props business has been running since 2011 and has ended up on the list of crews for major movies.
His silver screen CV includes Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, The Marvels, Deadpool & Wolverine, Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore, to the Fast & the Furious Fast X, The Batman and The Hobbit.
Movie fans will have seen more of his props in Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, the Paddington films, Mamma Mia 2 and even a pair of vintage TRUNKS for The Legend of Tarzan.
He even provided props for winter blockbuster Wicked.
His work has even made it to the TV industry, with clients contacting him for projects on Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity Big Brother and House of the Dragon.
Carl added: 'I'm hugely grateful for the loyalty of our props buyers and our staff for continuing to meet their needs so quickly, which is often a crucial factor - as props can be needed for a scene being shot the next day.
'Thanks to them I've realised a lifelong dream.'
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