There are movies that entertain, and then there are movies that reshape culture. George Lucas’ Star Wars, first released in 1977, belongs squarely in the latter category. With its revolutionary special effects, storytelling, and a galaxy far, far away that instantly felt like home, it changed the face of modern cinema forever. But over the years, the original theatrical version, the one that launched it all, has become something of a lost artifact, buried beneath layers of Special Editions, CGI enhancements, and revised canon.
For generations of fans, this untouched version of Star Wars has lived in memory, on VHS tapes, or through bootleg fan restorations. It’s long been a dream to experience it on the big screen as it was first shown. Now, in an unprecedented event, that dream is becoming a reality. The 2025 BFI Film on Film Festival will showcase Star Wars in its original, unaltered form, marking the first public screening of the theatrical cut in decades.
BFI Film Festival to open with the original version of A New Hope
The BFI Film on Film Festival has officially confirmed that its opening night, June 12, 2025, will feature a screening of the original, unaltered 1977 theatrical cut of Star Wars: A New Hope. This will be the first time in decades that fans will be able to watch the film exactly as it premiered nearly 50 years ago with no CGI dewbacks, no Jabba scene, and yes, Han will shoot first.
The screening will use one of the few surviving dye transfer IB Technicolor prints from the movie’s original British release, meticulously preserved by the BFI National Archive. According to the BFI website, the event aims to present Star Wars “exactly as experienced by audiences on its original release.” In addition to the film, attendees will get access to rare behind-the-scenes material, including annotated scripts, deleted scenes, and on-set Polaroids that haven’t been publicly displayed before.
This theatrical cut has essentially been out of circulation since George Lucas introduced his controversial Special Editions in 1997. Since then, official home media releases have only included the altered versions, much to the frustration of fans and preservationists alike. The unaltered trilogy briefly reappeared on DVD in 2006, but even that version was without proper restoration. With Disney maintaining the Special Editions as canon, hopes for a true re-release have been slim. Whether this leads to a broader theatrical or home media release remains to be seen. But for now, June 12 stands as a new hope.
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