Rare Star Wars Cut to Screen in London

Think you’ve seen the 1977 classic Star Wars? Think again. What you’ve likely experienced is one of the many altered versions released after its initial theatrical run, meticulously tweaked by George Lucas himself, culminating in what are known as the “special editions” of this beloved epic. But now, there's a new hope on the horizon — some fans will soon have the rare opportunity to witness the original cut of the film that Lucas left behind all those years ago.

This June, the British Film Institute will kick off their Film on Film Festival with a special screening of one of the few remaining Technicolor prints from Star Wars’ initial run. According to The Telegraph, this print hasn't been shown publicly since December 1978, although it has been available on VHS in the past.

George Lucas began altering the film with the first theatrical re-release in 1981, and since then, Lucasfilm has only permitted screenings of various “special editions.” The print to be shown at the upcoming festival has been meticulously preserved at 23 degrees Fahrenheit for the last forty years, promising an almost flawless viewing experience for attendees.

In the past, Lucas has been staunchly opposed to screening the original cut of what we now call Episode IV: A New Hope, and he has openly discussed his reasoning over the years. In a 2004 interview with the Associated Press, he stated, “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. 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.”

It's unclear why Lucas has seemingly had a change of heart with this screening, but fans certainly aren't complaining about the chance to see this piece of cinematic history in its original glory.