"Secret Star Wars Cut to Screen in London"

Think you’ve seen 1977’s Star Wars? Think again. What you’ve likely seen are the altered versions distributed after its initial theatrical run, tweaked by George Lucas and later released as “special editions” of the beloved epic. But now, fans have a new hope — the chance to see the original cut of the film that Lucas left behind so long ago.

This June, the British Film Institute's Film on Film Festival will kick off with a screening of one of the few remaining Technicolor prints from Star Wars' initial run, according to The Telegraph. This marks the first public screening of this print since December 1978, though it has been available on VHS in the past.

Lucas began tweaking the film with its first theatrical re-release in 1981, and since then, Lucasfilm has only permitted screenings of the various “special editions.” Fans are in for a treat at the upcoming festival; the print has been stored at 23 degrees Fahrenheit for the last forty years to preserve its quality, promising a near impeccable viewing experience.

In the past, Lucas has been steadfast in his opposition to screening the original cut of what we now know as Episode IV: A New Hope, and he has publicly discussed his stance over the years.

“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,” he told the Associated Press back in 2004 about not releasing the original cut. “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 why Lucas seems to be having a change of heart with this screening, but fans certainly aren't complaining.