Original/Unaltered "Star Wars" Trilogy on Blu-Ray in 2017

I watched a little of that video and the frames were still loaded with dirt.

Is that the final "fan restored" version?

The clips Mike Verta produced were far better.

 

Which video are you referring to?

 

Can't be Harmy's. That's super clean. No dirt at all!

 

2017 is almost over, and no sign of the original theatrical versions actually coming out.

 

I bet that Kathy Kennedy (current president of Lucasfilm) will be making the interview rounds next month, and one hopes somebody will ask her, "hey, when the hell are you guys ever going to release the original theatrical versions of all the Star Wars films on home video?"

 

This interviewer had his chance but chose to dance around the question rather than asking it in a straightforward manner. The look on Kennedy's face is priceless. She clearly didn't understand the question. It's at the 2:55 mark.

 

If it were happening in 2017 it would've been announced months ago, for pre-orders. Our next best (new) hope is probably 2020, when Fox's home video distributions rights for the original film expire.

 

It's not going to happen folks. 20th Century Fox and Disney would make tons of money off of it. But I have a feeling that George Lucas put something in the contract when he sold to Disney that the original theatrical versions would never be released. Don't you think that if it was going to happen, it would have already happened? The only way to officially get the originals is the 2006 Special Edition DVDs which have the poorly-done Laserdisc transfers, the actual Laserdiscs themselves or VHS tapes. You can also do some digging and find high-quality transfers aka "Despecialized Editions" done by a guy named Harmy. But this goes into legal grey areas and no-no's so check the laws where you live first. And I thought I read somewhere that 20th Century Fox completely owns Star Wars: A New Hope and that the rights do not transfer to Disney in 2020.

 

There's no legal impediment to the OT theatrical versions being (theoretically) released... that's essentially been confirmed by Kathleen Kennedy herself; when Lucas sold out - in all senses - to the Mouse House, he signed it all away... Disney made sure of that for a $4bn price tag!!!

It will happen eventually... but not before either the person running Lucasfilm grows a backbone and decides to go against the wishes of their founder and former boss, and/or until Disney gets the rights to all SW films in perpetuity.

Place your bets now on which one will happen first...

 

Do the rights to the first film actually transfer over to Disney in 2020? I thought 20th Century Fox totally owned the movie forever.

 

20th Century Fox own the rights to Star Wars - the 1977 film - in perpetuity since the Disney acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 because they both financed and distributed said film, unlike the subsequent two sequels and prequels, which were financed/produced by Lucasfilm and merely distributed by Fox.

Disney own the rights to all SW films except the 1977 one from May 2020 onward... unless they purchase Fox's film division, which they have been in negotiations to do of late... so all bets are off.

 

They're just waiting to finish the new trilogy..........then all 9 will be released in a gargantuan box...............making you buy the first 3 again!

 

But will they be the original theatrical versions of the first three?

 

I actually don't mind the new CG Yoda in Episode I, as it fits well with Eps II and III.

I also think the original puppet works, so either way...

 

There should have just used the puppet from Empire. Yoda never looked better.

 

Yeah, but he was only 870 years old in Episode I.

 

Foam latex doesn't stay supple after 20 or so years. The puppet is probably preserved, but I'm pretty sure it wouldn't be in usable condition.

 

So... let me get this straight. The original trilogy will never be issued in their original formats?

 

All supposition here. No one actually knows but we hold out hope.

Ed

 

That is exactly what I was told by two different insiders. Lucas truly did walk away from all of his film empire. BTW, part of what he's spending his money on is a $1 billion investment in the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in downtown Los Angeles, which will be a huge, sprawling building close to USC and the Memorial Coliseum:



The Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

I think if they do another Indiana Jones film, Lucas might come back as a "consultant" or something, and maybe even contribute a story idea, but I tend to doubt he'll take an active role.

 

That was literally the WORST way he could have phrased that question. Jesus Christ.

 

If you love Star Wars you probably know most of this but it's still a very good presentation.

 

Dear George Lucas,

You are not a film editor. Stop editing. Leave it to the professionals.

Sincerely,
Everyone

 

I'd give my soul to the devil to finally have these things.