For die-hard Star Wars fans, this is absolutely the best news of the century. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first film in the series, Lucasfilm has confirmed that the original 1977 version of Star Wars (now renamed Star Wars: The Four Movies - A New Dawn) will officially return to the big screen on February 19, 2027.
This means that audiences will finally be able to see the original look of George Lucas before the extensive CGI "modifications" he made for the "Special Editions" in 1997.
Official confirmation: It's the 1977 theatrical release version, not a special edition.
Although news of a Star Wars re-release in 2027 to commemorate its 50th anniversary surfaced as early as August, the version was not confirmed at the time. Lucasfilm has now clarified in an update to its website that this will be a "completely restored version of the classic Star Wars film released in 1977," and has further confirmed that it will be based on the long-awaited original version, excluding all subsequent digital restorations and changes.
Say goodbye to CGI technology and present Jabba and Grido's "corrections".
Released in 1997 as a special edition, it was seen as Lucas's testing ground for CGI technology in preparation for filming the prequel trilogy. While it improved the picture quality, it also included many changes that longtime fans criticized:
• The duel between Han Solo and Greedo:In the original version, Han Solo ruthlessly shoots the bounty hunter Greedo directly, while in the special edition, Greedo fires first (but misses), and Han Solo retaliates. This change is considered to weaken Han Solo's character arc from a "profit-driven smuggler" to a "rebel hero," as if Lucas deliberately purified the character's image to make him appear "less bad" in front of children.
• CGI technology Jabba the Hutt:The special edition forcibly added back a dialogue between Han Solo and Jabba that had been cut due to technical limitations, but the Jabba effect created by early CGI technology looks quite abrupt and awkward today.
• Too many background creatures:The scene was filled with CGI robots and alien creatures that were considered cool at the time, but now seem crowded.
Following the aforementioned adjustments, in the re-release expected in 2027, Gregor will no longer have the opportunity to fire a shot, and the awkward CGI Jabba will also disappear.
Perhaps there will be a chance for "Return of the Jedi" to be re-released?
Although this is the first film confirmed, if Disney decides to continue this 50th anniversary celebration project, fans may be able to expect a re-release of the original version of Return of the Jedi in 2033.
This means that moviegoers have the opportunity to escape the jarring song and dance performance in Jabba's Palace in the 1997 special edition, or even the superfluous "Nooooooo..." that Darth Vader utters when he throws the Sith Emperor into the reactor at the crucial moment in the 2011 Blu-ray version.
