"Rare Star Wars Cut to Screen in London"

Think you’ve seen the original 1977 Star Wars? Think again. What you’ve most likely seen is one of the several altered versions that went into distribution after the film’s initial theatrical run. These versions were tweaked by George Lucas himself and eventually became known as the “special editions” of the beloved epic. But now, there's a new hope for fans — the chance to see the actual original cut of the film that Lucas left behind all those years ago.

This June, the British Film Institute will kick off their Film on Film Festival with a special screening of one of the few remaining Technicolor prints from Star Wars' initial run. According to The Telegraph, this print hasn't been shown publicly since December 1978, though it was available on VHS in the past. The upcoming screening is a significant event for fans, as this particular print has been meticulously preserved at 23 degrees Fahrenheit for the last forty years, ensuring a near-flawless viewing experience.

George Lucas began altering the film with its first theatrical re-release in 1981, and since then, Lucasfilm has only allowed the various “special editions” to be screened. Lucas has been firm in his stance against showing the original cut of what is now known as Episode IV: A New Hope, and he has spoken about his decision over the years.

“The Special Edition, that’s the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it’s on VHS, if anybody wants it. I’m not going to spend the — we’re talking millions of dollars here — the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn’t really exist anymore,” Lucas told the Associated Press in 2004. “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. 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.”

It's unclear why Lucas might be having a change of heart with this screening, but fans certainly aren't complaining about the opportunity to experience the original Star Wars as it was first seen in theaters.