"Rare Star Wars Cut to Screen in London"

If you think you've seen the original 1977's Star Wars, think again. What you've likely experienced is one of the several altered versions that George Lucas released after the film's initial theatrical run. These versions, tweaked by Lucas, evolved into what we now know as the "special editions" of the iconic saga. But there's a new hope on the horizon—fans will soon have the chance to see the authentic, unaltered cut of the film that Lucas originally presented.

In June, the British Film Institute will kick off its Film on Film Festival with a screening of one of the rare Technicolor prints from Star Wars' initial release that has survived to this day. According to The Telegraph, this print hasn't been shown publicly since December 1978, although it was available on VHS in the past.

Lucas began altering the film with its first theatrical re-release in 1981, and since then, Lucasfilm has only allowed "special editions" to be screened. The print set to be showcased at the upcoming festival is particularly exciting for fans; it has been meticulously preserved at 23 degrees Fahrenheit for the last forty years, promising an almost flawless viewing experience.

Historically, Lucas has been steadfast in his reluctance to screen the original cut of what we now call Episode IV: A New Hope. He has openly discussed his stance over the years, emphasizing his preference for the "Special Edition."

"The Special Edition, that's the one I wanted out there. The other movie, it's on VHS, if anybody wants it. I'm not going to spend the — we're talking millions of dollars here — the money and the time to refurbish that, because to me, it doesn't really exist anymore," Lucas told the Associated Press in 2004. "It's like this is the movie I wanted it to be, and I'm sorry you saw a half-completed film and fell in love with it. But I want it to be the way I want it to be. I'm the one who has to take responsibility for it. I'm the one who has to have everybody throw rocks at me all the time, so at least if they're going to throw rocks at me, they're going to throw rocks at me for something I love rather than something I think is not very good, or at least something I think is not finished."

It's unclear what prompted Lucas's apparent change of heart regarding this screening, but fans are certainly not complaining about the opportunity to see the film as it was originally intended.