Lucasfilm has a long history of tinkering with its beloved sci-fi epic, leaving fans wondering what exactly constitutes an "original" version of Star Wars. The saga's creator, George Lucas, made numerous tweaks to the film from the very beginning, and over the years, those changes have continued to evolve.
The original 1977 theatrical release of A New Hope was a far cry from the glossy blockbuster we know today. The film was one of thousands of compromises, with scenes cut, special effects tweaked, and dialogue altered to suit Lucas's vision. But even after its initial release, Lucas wasn't done pushing for changes – he continued to revisit the film, emboldened by its success.
Fast forward to 1981, when A New Hope officially became Empire Strikes Back in theaters. The re-release introduced subtle updates to the opening crawl, including a new starfield background and a capital "R" in the word "Rebel." Other minor tweaks were also made, such as adjusting the positioning of planets in the Death Star chase.
In the home video era, the 1980s saw the release of VHS, Betamax, and CED versions of A New Hope. These initial releases used the 35mm Dolby Stereo audio track, but were sped up to fit on a single disc, reducing the run time from 121 minutes to under two hours. The laserdisc releases of the 1980s and early 1990s brought further changes, including newly remastered audio tracks and adjustments to the additions made in the 1997 Special Edition.
The 1997 Special Edition was a major overhaul, introducing CGI-enhanced visual effects, new scenes, and narrative tweaks. Han Solo's encounter with Jabba the Hutt was reworked, and the film received a new voice filter for Darth Vader. However, the added scene of Greedo firing his blaster before Han pulled the trigger sparked controversy – and a meme.
In 2004, the original trilogy's DVD releases incorporated further changes, including audio tweaks and updated visuals. The bonus discs included "original" versions of the films, but these were derived from the 1993 laserdisc transfers.
The Blu-ray release in 2011 brought more minor tweaks to Han and Greedo's encounter. And in 2019, Disney+ streaming brought color correction adjustments, further tweaking the post-Special Edition version of A New Hope.
Now, Lucasfilm is preparing to celebrate Star Wars' 50th anniversary with a re-release of the "original" theatrical cut – but what exactly does that mean? The studio has announced that the release will feature a newly restored version of the classic 1977 film. Two years later, we'll finally find out what the galaxy far, far away's latest definition of "original" is.
One thing is certain: George Lucas's obsessive tinkering with Star Wars has left an indelible mark on pop culture. As the saga continues to evolve, fans will continue to debate which version is truly "original."
The original 1977 theatrical release of A New Hope was a far cry from the glossy blockbuster we know today. The film was one of thousands of compromises, with scenes cut, special effects tweaked, and dialogue altered to suit Lucas's vision. But even after its initial release, Lucas wasn't done pushing for changes – he continued to revisit the film, emboldened by its success.
Fast forward to 1981, when A New Hope officially became Empire Strikes Back in theaters. The re-release introduced subtle updates to the opening crawl, including a new starfield background and a capital "R" in the word "Rebel." Other minor tweaks were also made, such as adjusting the positioning of planets in the Death Star chase.
In the home video era, the 1980s saw the release of VHS, Betamax, and CED versions of A New Hope. These initial releases used the 35mm Dolby Stereo audio track, but were sped up to fit on a single disc, reducing the run time from 121 minutes to under two hours. The laserdisc releases of the 1980s and early 1990s brought further changes, including newly remastered audio tracks and adjustments to the additions made in the 1997 Special Edition.
The 1997 Special Edition was a major overhaul, introducing CGI-enhanced visual effects, new scenes, and narrative tweaks. Han Solo's encounter with Jabba the Hutt was reworked, and the film received a new voice filter for Darth Vader. However, the added scene of Greedo firing his blaster before Han pulled the trigger sparked controversy – and a meme.
In 2004, the original trilogy's DVD releases incorporated further changes, including audio tweaks and updated visuals. The bonus discs included "original" versions of the films, but these were derived from the 1993 laserdisc transfers.
The Blu-ray release in 2011 brought more minor tweaks to Han and Greedo's encounter. And in 2019, Disney+ streaming brought color correction adjustments, further tweaking the post-Special Edition version of A New Hope.
Now, Lucasfilm is preparing to celebrate Star Wars' 50th anniversary with a re-release of the "original" theatrical cut – but what exactly does that mean? The studio has announced that the release will feature a newly restored version of the classic 1977 film. Two years later, we'll finally find out what the galaxy far, far away's latest definition of "original" is.
One thing is certain: George Lucas's obsessive tinkering with Star Wars has left an indelible mark on pop culture. As the saga continues to evolve, fans will continue to debate which version is truly "original."
"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending" 
- C.S. Lewis 
i feel like we'll never know for sure what's "original" anymore, especially with all these re-releases and changes... 
. I mean, who would've thought that A New Hope was originally so... rough around the edges? 
It's like they were trying to make up for lost time with all the tweaks and changes. And don't even get me started on those VHS and Betamax versions – sped up and all 
. I remember watching those old copies with my friends, thinking it was normal for movies to be cut down like that.
. I've seen those behind-the-scenes things where they're restoring old footage, and it's like watching history come alive 
. But at the same time, part of me is nostalgic for the original – you know, the one that was good enough back then 
.
. I mean, does it even matter? The movie's still gonna be awesome either way 
. Can't wait to see what Lucasfilm comes up with for this re-release – hope they do it justice 
!
. I mean, I get it, George Lucas wanted to make it his own and all that jazz, but can't we just leave some things alone? The original 1977 version was perfect for me - I loved it just the way it was, flaws and all 
. Now they're gonna make this "newly restored" version, which basically means they'll be fixing every little mistake they made back then 
. And what's with all these changes? Did we really need those CGI-enhanced visual effects in 1977? I think the special effects were just fine, thank you very much 
So I'm low-key intrigued by this whole concept of what constitutes an "original" version of Star Wars. Like, does it even matter anymore? We've seen so many re-releases and edits over the years that it's hard to keep track of which one is the "true" original. And let's be real, who needs an exact replica when you can enjoy the nostalgia and charm of each iteration? 
The fact that George Lucas was always tweaking and refining his vision just goes to show how passionate he was about creating this iconic universe. I'm curious to see what the new re-release will bring - more tweaks or a chance for fans to experience the film in its purest, unaltered state? Either way, it's gonna be a wild ride! 
. At the end of the day, though, it's all about giving fans what they want and letting them enjoy the franchise in its various guises 
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. What do you guys think? Should we be celebrating the "original" Star Wars or appreciating the evolution of the franchise as a whole?
. Like, can't we just leave it alone? They're always tweaking and re-releasing something new... is it the real deal or just some watered-down version? 
. Maybe they're trying to control our perception of the film or something 
... anyway, can't wait to see what this new release is gonna bring 
! The real question is: will we ever get to experience the "original" version as George Lucas first envisioned? Only time (and a healthy dose of nostalgia) will tell 
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It's crazy to think about how much George Lucas changed the film over the years 
. The original 1977 cut was already so different from what we know today 
I'm curious to see how they've restored it this time 