logo
Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy Assures Fans That Screening of Original Cut of 1977's Star Wars Isn't 'Illegal'

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy Assures Fans That Screening of Original Cut of 1977's Star Wars Isn't 'Illegal'

Yahoo16-06-2025
The British Film Institute just screened the first print of the original Star Wars, Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and Lucasfilm boss Kathleen Kennedy was on hand to make sure fans knew the screening of George Lucas' sci-fi masterpiece was not, in fact, illegal.
As spotted by GamesRadar, Kennedy joked during her introductory remarks before the iconic movie screened at the BFI Film on Film Festival in London on June 12: "I'm here to… make sure that you don't think that this is an illegal screening."
She added about the print: "It's incredible folklore. I have to say that even when I came into the company, there was endless conversation about where everything was, and what was in fact the first print? And it's quite remarkable, what you're going to see is in fact the first print, and I'm not even sure there's another one quite like it. It's that rare. There's so much tinkering that's gone on over the years, and things that George [Lucas] decided, 'I'm gonna change this, I'm gonna try that.' And then, everybody kind of lost track of what it was."
This showing was the first time the first print of the 1977 classic was publicly screened since 1978, though this particular cut had been made available on VHS a few times over the years. According to a report from The Telegraph back in April, the reels were stored at 23 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve quality and the viewing experience.
"In these very special screenings, we present the film exactly as experienced by audiences on its original 1977 release," the BFI explained.
"Screening from one of the precious handful of dye transfer IB Technicolor prints produced uniquely for the first British release, and preserved in the BFI National Archive, this has some of the wear that comes with an archive print, but its colour is gloriously unfaded. Truly unmissable."Interestingly enough, Lucas has been vocal in the past about keeping the original cut of the film in the dark, so much so that he made tweaks to that cut shortly after release and those cuts went on to become the Special Edition. That Special Edition, released in 1997, is what has been made readily available to fans over the years.
Photo by PA Images via Getty Images.
Lex Briscuso is a film and television critic and a freelance entertainment writer for IGN. You can follow her on Twitter at @nikonamerica.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

George Lucas brings the force to Comic-Con in historic first visit
George Lucas brings the force to Comic-Con in historic first visit

Yahoo

time3 hours ago

  • Yahoo

George Lucas brings the force to Comic-Con in historic first visit

Comic-Con fans pulled out their lightsabers Sunday to welcome "Star Wars" creator George Lucas to the prominent pop culture convention for the very first time. Attendees lined up for hours to grab a seat inside the 6,500-person capacity venue in San Diego, California to see the legendary filmmaker behind the "Indiana Jones" franchise speak at the event on its final day. Comic-Con, which draws some 130,000 attendees, has become an important platform for movie studios and their stars to showcase the latest film and television offerings, especially those with a genre fan base. "We've been waiting five decades for this!" said panel moderator Queen Latifah, who oversaw the discussion by Lucas and other filmmakers. Instead of discussing his film works, however, Lucas graced the convention to preview the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art -- opening in Los Angeles in 2026 -- which the director co-founded with his wife, businesswoman Mellody Hobson. "I've been collecting art since I was in college," Lucas, 81, told the crowd, adding that he has amassed tens of thousands of pieces in his collection. "I've been doing this for 50 years now, and then it occurred to me that what am I going to do with it all because I, I refuse to sell it. "I could never do that, it's just, it's not what I think art is -- I think it's more about an emotional connection," the director said. In his description of the museum, Lucas said the institution will feature a blend of works. They include illustrations by Normal Rockwell, Jessie Willcox Smith and N.C. Wyeth; artworks by Frida Kahlo, Jacob Lawrence, Charles White and Robert Colescott; and pieces by cartoonists and artists like Winsor McCay, Frank Frazetta and Jack Kirby. "This is sort of a temple to the people's art," he said in summation. The museum, housed in a sleek, curved building, will also feature items from Lucas's films and other exclusive pieces. For the "Star Wars" mastermind, the museum aims to be a tribute to the importance of narrative art. "When you're born, the baseline is fear. And as you go through life, you're curious about things, but you're especially curious about things you don't understand, and therefore that's a threat to you. "And as a result, you make up stories to make it feel good," he continued. "Science fiction is a myth... but we've made it real because of science fiction books and art." - 'A critical moment' - Among the other members of the panel were Oscar-winning director Guillermo del Toro and production designer Doug Chiang, who shaped the aesthetic of the "Star Wars" universe for decades. "What's remarkable about George is that he leads from the heart, and this museum is him," Chiang said. Del Toro, who will release his latest film "Frankenstein" in November, said many of the museum's pieces will celebrate freedom of speech. "We are in a critical moment in which one of the things they like to disappear is the past, you know, and this is memorializing a popular, vociferous, expressive and eloquent moment in our visual past that belongs to all of us," Del Toro said. The fantasy filmmaker also described comics as a medium with "a lot of social conscience" and joked that comic artists "were the first one to punch a Nazi" in their works. "What a panel!" said attendee Jesse Goldwater, who traveled to San Diego from Los Angeles. "They are the embodiment of Comic-Con itself, without them Comic-Con wouldn't exist." pr/jgc/mlm

George Lucas Heading to Comic-Con for First Time Ever
George Lucas Heading to Comic-Con for First Time Ever

Yahoo

time4 hours ago

  • Yahoo

George Lucas Heading to Comic-Con for First Time Ever

The king of the nerds is finally coming to Comic-Con. George Lucas, whose Star Wars movies helped create many of the ideas of modern fandoms, is coming to San Diego Comic-Con for his first-ever panel. More from The Hollywood Reporter Kenneth Colley, Admiral Piett in a Pair of 'Star Wars' Films, Dies at 87 'Rogue One' Director Has No Plans to Make Another 'Star Wars' Movie: "I'm Very Happy to Move on" 'Star Wars' "Looks Terrible" in Screening of Long Lost Original 1977 Version Lucas will be joined by filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, and artist and Star Wars prequels production designer Doug Chiang for a panel that will explore the power of illustrated story and offer a sneak peek at the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. Queen Latifah, the Grammy- Emmy- and Golden Globe-winning actress and recording artist, will moderate the panel, which will take place Sunday in Hall H, the cavernous and storied arena in the San Diego Convention Centre. The panel of creators will discuss the role of narrative art in society while tracing humanity's innate desire to draw, animate and bring to life stories across the millennia. 'We are beyond thrilled to welcome George Lucas to Comic-Con for the very first time,' said David Glanzer, chief communications and strategy officer of Comic-Con. 'Nearly five decades ago, Star Wars made one of its earliest public appearances at our convention, along with a booth featuring Howard Chaykin's now legendary Star Wars poster as a promotional item. 'Now, to have Mr. Lucas return, this time to debut the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art, is a true full-circle moment. His lifelong dedication to visual storytelling and world-building resonates deeply with us and our community, and the museum's mission to celebrate narrative art in all its forms perfectly reflects what Comic-Con has championed from the very beginning.' Star Wars has been tied to Comic Con since its earliest days although surprisingly Lucas has not made a pilgrimage to the geek mecca himself, preferring to let creatives or fan outreach executives make appearance. A Star Wars panel was held in 1976, a year before the original movie was released, but the panelists included the makers of the not-yet launched Star Wars comic from Marvel, writer Roy Thomas and artist Chaykin. And there have been many a panel on many aspects of Star Wars, although most were not of the headline-making variety. One exception was a panel in 2004 where Lucasfilm revealed Revenge as the Sith as the title for Star Wars: Episode III. Another was when Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill shared the stage in 2015 to unveil a peek at the first Star Wars: The Force Awakens, although that was now in the Disney era and Lucas was not part of that. The Lucas Museum is dedicated to illustrated storytelling across time, cultures, and media and its collection will include works by Norman Rockwell, Kadir Nelson, Jessie Willcox Smith, N. C. Wyeth, Beatrix Potter, Judy Baca, Frida Kahlo, and Maxfield Parrish. There will also be showcases for work by comic artists, including Winsor McCay, Jack Kirby, Frank Frazetta, Alison Bechdel, Chris Ware, and R. Crumb; and photographers Gordon Parks, Henri Cartier-Bresson, and Dorothea Lange. The museum also houses the Lucas Archive, containing models, props, concept art, and costumes from Lucas's filmmaking career. Co-founded by Lucas and Mellody Hobson and to be located in LA's Exposition Park, the museum is slated to open in 2026. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts Solve the daily Crossword

At his first Comic-Con, George Lucas previews Lucas Museum of Narrative Art
At his first Comic-Con, George Lucas previews Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

USA Today

time4 hours ago

  • USA Today

At his first Comic-Con, George Lucas previews Lucas Museum of Narrative Art

SAN DIEGO – George Lucas has amassed 50 years of cool stuff, and now he's going to have a place to put it. Even better, you can see it, too. Original sketches, paintings and assorted illustrations from the 'Star Wars' creator's personal collection – plus quite a bit representing that galaxy far, far away − will be on display at the new Lucas Museum of Narrative Art. The building is under construction in Los Angeles' Exposition Park, will open in 2026, and is dedicated to 'cultural fantasy,' Lucas said. The Hollywood icon was joined on Sunday, July 27, at a Comic-Con panel about the museum by 'Star Wars' illustrator and production designer Doug Chiang, Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro, and moderator Queen Latifah. It was Lucas' first time at Comic-Con in his legendary career, earning a standing ovation from the 6,500 faithful in Hall H. But instead of waxing nostalgic about "Star Wars" and his movies, Lucas previewed the creation of his passion project. Join our Watch Party! Sign up to receive USA TODAY's movie and TV recommendations right in your inbox A video narrated by Samuel L. Jackson took the crowd on a tour of what will be in the space, from an exhibit on myths through the ages to displays featuring artists like Norman Rockwell, Frank Frazetta, Jack Kirby and R. Crumb. Some of the works in the museum include the first Flash Gordon character drawing from 1934 ('You can see all the smudges,' Latifah noted), original 'Peanuts' sketches from the 1950s and '60s, and an original drawing of the 'Iron Man' No. 1 cover from 1968. 'Star Wars' fans will find plenty to love, too, including actual vehicles like a Naboo starfighter from Lucas' prequel movies and speeder bikes from 'Return of the Jedi.' And here's another fun fact: The museum architecture contains no right angles, only curves. Lucas, 81, has collected 40,000 pieces of art in the past five decades. 'It occurred to me: What am I going to do with it all?' he said. 'I'm not going to sell it. I could never do that. It's not what art is.' He called the museum a "temple to the people's art" and discussed that art is "a personal thing" to us, "not how much it cost or what celebrity did it or whatever. And I don't think it's anything that anybody else can tell you, 'That's art, that's not art.' It doesn't work that way. If you have an emotional connection, then it's art. "I've discovered just from my experience of making movies and things that other people's opinions don't mean much." Del Toro, a board member for the Lucas museum, appreciates "the pieces we have that celebrate freedom from anarchy," he said. "Comics were the first one to punch Nazis before movies." And with art, "we're not eternal. But what we hold and cherish is." The recent fires made del Toro worry a little about his own large collection. "I draw the line at three houses full of stuff," he said with a laugh. "Now that this museum exists, maybe some of it goes there." And the Lucas museum very much reflects the man whose name is on it, said Chiang, whose own work will be on display. "George leads from the heart, and this museum is him. My hope is that it will inspire the next Norman Rockwell or Frank Frazetta."

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store