A newly restored version of the original 1977 cut of Star Wars: A New Hope will be released in theaters on February 19th, 2027 in celebration of its 50th anniversary.
To be clear, Lucasfilm has confirmed that will be the OG cut of A New Hope as it was shown in 1977, and not the Special Edition that George Lucas released in 1997 that has since been the film’s preferred version of exhibition. The 1997 version included CGI tinkering and the inclusion of the Greedo shot first at Han scene, among other changes.
In 2004, Lucas clarified that the 1997 Special Edition was his true vision for the film. “The Special Edition, that’s the one I wanted out there,” said Lucas to The Associated Press. “The other movie, it’s on VHS, if anybody wants it.”
“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,” Lucas added. 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.”
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The re-release of A New Hope in February 2027 will arrive a month ahead of Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, on March 28th, 2027.