Think you've seen 1977's *Star Wars*? Think again. What you've likely seen are the altered versions released after its original theatrical run, tweaked by George Lucas himself into what became known as the "special editions." But now, there's a new hope for fans to experience the original cut of this beloved epic.
This June, the British Film Institute's Film on Film Festival will kick off with a rare 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, though it was available on VHS in the past. Lucas began modifying the film with its first theatrical re-release in 1981, and since then, only these "special editions" have been screened. The print set to be shown at the festival has been preserved at 23 degrees Fahrenheit for the last forty years, ensuring a near-perfect viewing experience.
Historically, George Lucas has been firm in his opposition to screening the original cut of what we now call *Episode IV: A New Hope*. He once explained his stance to the Associated Press in 2004, saying, "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 might be having a change of heart with this screening, but fans are certainly not complaining about the opportunity to see the original *Star Wars* as it was first intended.
