"Secret Star Wars Cut to Screen in London"

Think you've seen 1977's Star Wars? Think again. What you've most likely seen are the altered versions that George Lucas released after the film's original theatrical run. These versions, known as the "special editions," have been the only ones available for public viewing for years. However, there's a new hope for fans eager to experience the original cut of this beloved epic. This June, the British Film Institute's Film on Film Festival will kick off with a rare 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 previously available on VHS.

George Lucas began tweaking the film with its first theatrical re-release in 1981, and since then, Lucasfilm has only allowed these "special editions" to be screened. The print set to be shown at the festival has been meticulously preserved at 23 degrees Fahrenheit for the past forty years, promising an impeccable viewing experience for attendees.

Lucas has historically been firm about not screening the original cut of what we now call Episode IV: A New Hope. In a 2004 interview with the Associated Press, he explained his stance: "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. 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 has had a change of heart regarding this screening, but fans are certainly not complaining about the opportunity to see the original Star Wars as it was first intended.