“I think a film belongs to its creators”: George Lucas Will Never Release the Unaltered Star Wars Original Trilogy for One Reason
George Lucas is a big fan of using fancy computer tricks in his movies. He even started his own company, Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), to make these special effects even cooler. The 80-year-old used them in the Star Wars movies that came out later (prequels) and even went back and added them to the original Star Wars movies (special editions).
However, some fans want these movies to stay exactly as they were when they first came out in theaters. For many, the original Star Wars trilogy holds a special place in cinematic history. But a recent statement by Lucas at the Cannes Film Festival 2024 declared his firm stance against releasing unaltered versions of the films.
George Lucas’s Reason for Withholding Original Star Wars Trilogy
Star Wars creator, George Lucas, doesn’t want to release the original movies (like A New Hope) exactly as they were first shown in theaters. Why? Because he thinks movies are like paintings, and artists should be able to keep improving them. At the recent Cannes Film Festival 2024, the filmmaker reiterated his stance on the unaltered trilogy, stating (via The Star Wars Underworld on X):
“I think a film belongs to its creator. When Michelangelo made the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, he looked at it and said: I’m going to redo this part.”
For him, the newer versions with special effects and some extra scenes are the best versions, and that’s how he wants people to see his space saga. So, if you were hoping to see the movies exactly as they came out in the theaters way back when, that probably won’t happen.
Star Wars Fans Divided Over Original Trilogy Edits
Star Wars fans are at odds with creator George Lucas over changes made to the original trilogy. Lucas, a big believer in using fancy movie tricks (special effects), went back and added them to the original movies, even making some scene changes.
Fans, however, are split. Some want the movies to stay exactly as they were in theaters, arguing they’re a piece of history and remind them of happy times. This creates a clash: Lucas wants to keep improving his work, while fans love the originals. While Disney now owns Star Wars, there’s no sign of the originals being released again. Check out some fan reactions:
Movies are literally made FOR THE AUDIENCE.
I could understand Lucas going back and fiddling with the trilogy if they were unpopular on release, but not when they were widely beloved as pop-culture classics AS THEY WERE. He is basically telling the audience that they were wrong.— Tahlia Ford (@tahliaishere) May 25, 2024
imagine going to visit the sistine chapel now and an 80 year old Michelangelo is still painting a part like “using modern advancements in technology i can give god a handlebar mustache!!!!”
— joey (@joey_h1) May 25, 2024
And not when so many others have made creations of their own with it to the point where it would be pointless .
— David W. Coxwell (@w_coxwell) May 25, 2024
Check out the reactions that support him:
I 💯 agree with him! It's his work of art. He may so do with it as he pleases because that's his vision for it… If he had all the resources back when he first created them, he would've implemented more, and so when he pioneered the tech to do more, he rightfully went back to it
— Keyser on the Wire (@KeyserS007) May 25, 2024
I’ll admit, I like the special edition versions a lot.
— James M/CGH1999 #ISupportUkraineAndIsrael (@jamesm2022) May 25, 2024
There’s some good news for fans of the old movies though! Those old laserdisc versions of the first Star Wars movie (A New Hope) are actually pretty cheap. So, if you want to see the movie exactly as it was first released, find them on eBay.
