Rare Star Wars Cut to Screen in London

Think you've seen the 1977 classic Star Wars? Think again. Chances are, you've encountered one of the many altered versions distributed after its original theatrical release, tweaked by George Lucas himself to form what are known as the "special editions." But now, there's a new hope for fans: the opportunity to witness the true original cut of the film that Lucas left behind decades ago.

This June, the British Film Institute's Film on Film Festival will kick off with a special screening of one of the few remaining intact Technicolor prints from Star Wars' initial run, as reported by The Telegraph. This marks the first public screening of this print since December 1978, although it has been available on VHS in the past.

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

Historically, Lucas has been steadfast in his opposition to screening the original cut of what is now known as Episode IV: A New Hope. He has even publicly discussed his stance on this issue over the years. In a 2004 interview with the Associated Press, Lucas expressed, "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 what prompted Lucas's apparent change of heart regarding this screening, but fans are certainly not complaining about the chance to see the original cut once more.