If you were born after 1997, there’s a good chance that the Star Wars you saw in theaters isn’t quite Star Wars. At least, not the film as it initially was when it first screened in May 25, 1977. That’s because George Lucas didn’t get to do everything he wanted to in that original version. Much of it related to time, money, and technology that hadn’t been available back in 1977. George Lucas had wanted a vision of the film that required all of that (plus some rather controversial edits), and it took until 1997 for that to happen with the Special Edition of the film.
Since then, that original 1977 cut of Star Wars has become a bit of a sought-after treasure among fans. All in spite of George Lucas himself declaring the original 1977 cut to be non-canon, no less. It’s precisely this fame (or infamy depending on your point of view) that’s why this screening of that original 1977 cut is getting so much attention.
The Telegraph (and The Hollywood Reporter) have just announced that the British Film Institute’s Film on Film Festival in June 2025 will host a special screening of that original 1977 cut of Star Wars. Not only that, but they will be using one of the few remaining Technicolor prints of the film for that screening. That particular print has been sitting for 40 years at a nice, chilly 23 degrees Fahrenheit. For the record, that’s nine degrees lower than the freezing point of water. Thus, you can be assured of its quality even after all that time.
Tickets for that particular Film on Film Festival will go on sale on May 6, 2025 for British Film Institute (BFI) patrons. BFI members will be able to purchase those tickets starting the next day on May 7. 2025. The general sale for those tickets will begin on May 9, 2025. You can find all those options directly on the BFI’s official website.
Star Wars Original 1977 Cut To be Screened by BFI’s Film on Film Festival
To be honest, this is probably the dream of every Star Wars fan out there. For the original 1977 cut to get a theatrical screening? All against the direct wishes of George Lucas? This will be an amazing thing for everyone lucky enough to be able to get into that BFI film festival. Everyone else will probably have to be content with home video releases. But hey, at least the true fans will always know that Han Solo shot first.
What do you all think? Are you excited that the original 1977 Star Wars cut is finally being let out of its vault for an actual screening? Do you wish that cut will get a NA screening one of these days? Tell us your thoughts in the comments section below.
Source: The Telegraph, The Hollywood Reporter, BFI
That Hashtag Show
