When Disney first purchased Lucasfilm from George Lucas, many fans of the Star Wars saga hoped this would pave the way for the original, unaltered theatrical versions of A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi to make their grand return.
However, so far this hasn’t proven to be the case, and according to Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker director J.J. Abrams, it seems we’ll never again see the non-Special Edition versions of the Original Trilogy outside of fan-made “despecialized” edits.
“I have asked about this,” Abrams told NowThis. “Well, ’cause who wouldn’t wanna see that? But I’ve been told that, for reasons I don’t quite understand, that that’s not necessarily possible. Which is too bad because that was the thing that I loved.”
Abrams then discussed Lucas’ decision to revise the movies, stating that: “I guess it’s what George Lucas wanted, and that’s what he did, and so I respect that. Although I also feel like there’s something about the original theatrical version that was, for so many people, the thing they loved… And so, you know, it would be great to have that available for a mainstream audience.”
The filmmaker also went on to rule out any Special Edition versions of his two Star Wars films, adding: “At a certain point, you have to say, ‘This is what it is.’ And, for me, the idea of going back and making an incremental change or an adjustment to this or that, it just doesn’t – it’s not interesting to me.”
Are you disappointed that it seems we’ll never get another official release of the theatrical versions of the Original Trilogy? What do you think could be the reason why it’s “not necessarily possible”? Let us know in the comments below or tweet us @FlickeringMyth…
Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker sees J.J. Abrams (Star Wars: The Force Awakens) directing a cast that includes Star Wars veterans Daisy Ridley (Rey), Adam Driver (Kylo Ren), John Boyega (Finn), Oscar Isaac (Poe Dameron), Lupita Nyong’o (Maz Kanata), Domhnall Gleeson (General Hux), Kelly Marie Tran (Rose Tico), Joonas Suotamo (Chewbacca), Billie Lourd (Lieutenant Connix), Greg Grunberg (Snap Wexley), Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Billy Dee Williams (Lando Calrissian), Ian McDiarmid (Emperor Palpatine) and Carrie Fisher (Leia Organa) as well as new additions Naomi Ackie (Lady Macbeth), Richard E. Grant (Logan), Dominic Monaghan (Lost), and Keri Russell (The Americans).
