Star Wars 50th Anniversary: Will Theaters Finally Show the Original 1977 Cut?
Star Wars fans, buckle up—because the 50th anniversary of A New Hope is coming to theaters in 2027, and no one knows which version we’re getting. Will it be George Lucas’ original 1977 cut? The infamous Special Edition? Or something even rarer? Lucasfilm’s keeping us guessing.
- What’s happening? Star Wars: A New Hope returns to theaters in 2027 for its 50th anniversary.
- The big mystery: Lucasfilm hasn’t confirmed which version of the film will screen—original, Special Edition, or something else entirely.
- Recent hints: A rare early print screened at the BFI in June, sparking speculation about a “Despecialized” re-release.
Which Star Wars cut will we get?
George Lucas is famous (or infamous) for tweaking his original trilogy over the years. From adding CGI Jabba the Hutt to the “Maclunkey” edit, the versions keep evolving. Now, with the 50th anniversary approaching, fans are wondering: Will we finally get the untouched 1977 version back on the big screen?
Back in June, Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy screened what she called the “first print” of Star Wars at the British Film Institute—complete with the original crawl (no “A New Hope” subtitle). She even admitted:
“I’m not even sure there’s another one quite like it. It’s that rare.”
That screening fueled rumors that Lucasfilm might be prepping a restored original cut for the 2027 re-release. But when asked, Disney and Lucasfilm stayed vague, saying they’re “not confirming the format of the film at this time.” Classic.
So… what now?
We’ll have to wait for official details, but one thing’s clear: This re-release is a big deal. Whether it’s the original, the Special Edition, or something in between, Star Wars fans will be lining up to see the film that started it all—exactly as Lucas (or the archives) intended.
May the speculation (and the hope for no more Greedo shooting first) be with you.
