Hold Off on That ‘Star Wars’ Rewatch You’ve Been Planning

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If you enjoy revisiting the world of Star Wars every few years, you’ll be thrilled to hear this: IMAX just announced that Star Wars: A New Hope is coming back to IMAX theaters to celebrate the film’s 50th anniversary! It’s expected to be released around Star Wars Day on May 4th, 2027, before IMAX screens showcase Legend of Zelda and the Ryan Gosling film, Star Wars: Starfighter.

There’s more good news for Star Wars fans! There are reports that Lucasfilm might be bringing the original versions of the first three Star Wars movies back to cinemas. For decades, fans have only been able to see updated versions, so if these rumors are true, many people would finally get to experience the original theatrical releases on the big screen.

The 50th Anniversary of ‘Star Wars’ Will Be Spectacular


20th Century Fox

Although Star Wars films are frequently re-released, the fact that IMAX has A New Hope planned for 2027 suggests Lucasfilm is already planning a major anniversary celebration. This won’t likely be limited to just the IMAX showing; expect things like new merchandise, special events, and discussions about the film’s impact to also be part of the festivities.

Don’t wait to buy tickets when they go on sale! Given how popular the original Star Wars film, A New Hope, is, and especially seeing it in IMAX, theaters will be packed with fans. A New Hope is a classic, and it will look amazing on the big IMAX screen. Plus, the next two movies, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, are even better, so expect to see them in IMAX theaters soon, too.

Is It True That the Original ‘Star Wars’ Cuts Are Getting Remastered?


20th Century Fox

The upcoming IMAX release of A New Hope might be different from what you can watch on Disney+. It could actually be the original movie as it was first shown in theaters, instead of the updated special edition. Recent discoveries suggest Lucasfilm is working on improved versions of the original Star Wars trilogy – A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. A Reddit user named No-Swordfish-6231 shared that short clips from this remastering process were briefly available on YouTube, and provided screenshots as evidence.

With the anniversary approaching and plans to show the original Star Wars film, A New Hope, in IMAX, it would be a smart move to restore the original versions of the trilogy. A re-release would be a major draw for fans old and new, making this a perfect time to revisit the films that started it all. The key question is whether Lucasfilm has George Lucas’s approval. He previously released updated versions, believing he could enhance the films, but now that he’s no longer leading Lucasfilm, the company might be restoring the originals independently.

Why This Is All a Big Deal


20th Century Fox

It’s unexpected to hear that the original versions of Star Wars might be re-released, especially since they’ve been unavailable for so long. Many newer Star Wars fans have never seen them. When the special editions came out in 1997, the original theatrical cuts were removed, meaning anyone born around that time – Generation Z – has only ever known those versions. A remastered release would finally give these fans a chance to experience Star Wars as it was originally shown in theaters, and it would be easily accessible, too.

Disney could improve its relationship with Star Wars fans by re-releasing the original versions of the first three movies. Since Disney acquired the franchise, many fans haven’t been happy with the direction it’s taken – the sequel trilogy didn’t meet expectations, and the new Disney+ shows haven’t been a hit either. Announcing a restoration of the original cuts would be a great way to win fans back, particularly after the recent cancellation of a planned movie about Ben Solo.

Fans are buzzing about leaked images of newly remastered versions of the original films, and for good reason – they look fantastic. The movies received an update in 2019 for 4K TVs and Blu-ray, but this new remaster appears to be a significant improvement. If these versions are shown in IMAX, the visual experience could be incredible. While IMAX availability in the US is limited, the restored films will likely be available in other formats, and a Blu-ray/digital release is expected to follow.

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2025-11-05 02:03