"Secret Star Wars Cut to Screen in London"

Think you’ve seen the 1977 classic, *Star Wars*? Think again. What you’ve likely watched are the altered versions released after its initial theatrical run, modified by George Lucas himself, culminating in various “special editions” of the iconic film. But there's a new hope for fans—now, some will have the chance to experience the original, unaltered 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 screening of one of the few surviving Technicolor prints from *Star Wars'* initial release, as reported by The Telegraph. This marks the first public screening of this print since December 1978, although it has been available on VHS in the past.

Lucas began altering the film with its first theatrical re-release in 1981, and since then, Lucasfilm has only permitted screenings of the various “special editions.” Fans are in for a treat with the upcoming festival's print, which has been meticulously preserved at 23 degrees Fahrenheit for the past forty years, promising a near-flawless viewing experience.

Historically, Lucas has been firm in his opposition to screening the original cut of what is now known as *Episode IV: A New Hope*, and he has publicly discussed his stance 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,” he told the Associated Press in 2004, explaining his reluctance to release the original cut. “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 reconsidering his stance with this upcoming screening, but fans certainly aren't complaining about the opportunity to see the original *Star Wars* as it was first intended.