Rare Star Wars Cut to Screen in London

If you think you’ve seen the 1977 classic Star Wars, think again. Chances are, what you’ve watched was one of several revised editions meticulously adjusted by George Lucas himself. These alterations eventually became known as the “special editions,” reshaping the beloved original into something slightly different. However, here comes a new hope for purists and fans alike — there’s now a possibility to view the actual, untouched original cut that Lucas initially released.

This June, the British Film Institute’s Film on Film Festival is set to premiere one of the rare Technicolor prints created for the film’s original theatrical release. According to The Telegraph, this marks the first public screening of the print since December 1978, though it has previously been available on VHS.

Lucas began tinkering with the film shortly after its initial release in 1981, and ever since, only the “special editions” have been authorized for distribution. This upcoming festival screening is expected to offer a truly exceptional experience; stored at a frigid 23 degrees Fahrenheit for four decades, the print promises pristine clarity and authenticity.

Historically, Lucas remained steadfast in his refusal to showcase the original version of what we now call Episode IV: A New Hope. He once expressed his reasoning in an interview with the Associated Press in 2004.

“The Special Edition, that’s the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it’s on VHS, if anybody wants it. I’m not going to spend the — we’re talking millions of dollars here — the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn’t really exist anymore,” he explained. “It’s like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I’m sorry you saw a half-completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be. I’m the one who has to take responsibility for it. I’m the one who has to have everybody throw rocks at me all the time, so at least if they’re going to throw rocks at me, they’re going to throw rocks at me for something I love rather than something I think is not very good, or at least something I think is not finished.”

Why Lucas has decided to revisit the original cut now remains unclear, but one thing is certain: fans couldn’t be more thrilled.