Star Wars’ Original 1977 Theatrical Cut Returning to Cinemas for 50th Anniversary

Han shoots first! Everyone knew that Disney and Lucasfilm were going to go big for the Star Wars 50th Anniversary in 2027. Now we know they're going authentic too.

Celebrating something as culturally iconic as Star Wars' 50th Anniversary is something that even big corporations find they have to take a bit of a run up at. Disney, the current owner of Lucasfilm, announced that it was going to rerelease Star Wars: A New Hope into theaters for the occasion back in August. But no one knew which version.

Would it be the original? The one where Han shoots Greedo first in the Cantina? Or would it be George Lucas' much derided 20th Anniversary version released in 1997 where Greedo pulls the blaster trigger first, not to mention frankly rubbish CGI being dropped willy-nilly into the production. The CGI Jabba the Hutt? Don't get us started.

Now it has been thankfully confirmed that a newly restored version of the classic Star Wars (1977) theatrical release — only later renamed as Star Wars: A New Hope — will play in theaters 'everywhere' for a limited time from February 19, 2027. This is over two months sooner than originally planned, and the announcement follows Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy turning up in person for an ultra-rare screening of the classic release at the BFI in June.

“I’m here to make sure you don’t think this is an illegal screening,” she said to laughter from the crowd. "I don't think there's another one [print] like it, it's that rare."

Well, it looks like now there is. Multiple versions in fact, including even rumors of an IMAX release as well. Most fans will be happy though with just the return of the original after decades of Lucas insisting that the 1997 version was to be considered definitive, not to mention the chance of a more sympathetic grade to the original as part of the new restoration. Confirmation of 4K and HDR, ticket sales, distribution? All yet to be tied down.

As for our April 1 story from earlier this year about the 'oner' version that George Lucas was said to be planning, no updates as yet :-)