Kathleen Kennedy Endorses Rare 1977 Star Wars Screening George Lucas Always Hated
On June 12, 2025, Kathleen Kennedy, the president of Lucasfilm, unexpectedly attended the BFI Film on Film Festival in London. There, she introduced a special screening of the original 1977 version of Star Wars, which was later given the title “Episode IV: A New Hope” (it wasn’t actually called Episode 4 initially).
For the very first time since 1978, this exceptionally scarce, vibrant dye-transfer print was unveiled to the public, attracting throngs of excited spectators and stirring anticipation among aficionados.
Could one possibly wonder how such a print came into being? It seems it had been silently safeguarded within the BFI National Archive throughout these years.
Upon taking the stage, Kennedy jokingly addressed concerns about the screening’s legitimacy, stating, “I’m here to make sure that you don’t think this is an illegal screening.”
Indeed, it seems that certain enthusiasts believed displaying this particular edit was against the law. Kennedy’s attendance highlighted the occasion’s importance, as she underscored the print’s scarcity, stating, “I’m not entirely certain if there’s any other one quite similar to it.
Regrettably, despite the cinema screening being well-executed, it’s clear that it wasn’t endorsed by George Lucas, the visionary behind Star Wars. His disdain for the unaltered version has become quite notorious, and it explains why so few of the original cuts remain today.
The screening presented Star Wars as it was initially seen by audiences in 1977, prior to Lucas’s numerous edits, notably the contentious alteration where Greedo shoots at Han Solo first in the Mos Eisley cantina scene. Kennedy emphasized the print’s “remarkable mythology,” explaining that even when she joined Lucasfilm in 2012, discussions about the original location and validity of the first print were still ongoing.
According to the BFI’s Chief Executive, Ben Roberts, the amazing find of this exceptionally well-maintained film reel, kept at a chilly 23 degrees Fahrenheit, has been referred to as nothing short of a “miracle”.
Kennedy’s statements emphasized that the original Star Wars movie serves as the benchmark for the entire Star Wars saga. He expressed this by saying, “This is the film fans begin discussing when we talk about the story, George Lucas’ vision, and the foundation upon which we are building.
Without a doubt, it’s crucial to emphasize that George intended this specific edit to be kept hidden and never played publicly again. It’s also said that when Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney, there was a specific provision in the contract prohibiting such a viewing. However, the BFI audience (which included director Edgar Wright) didn’t seem bothered by it.
Kennedy’s presence also offered an opportunity to delve into the future of “Star Wars,” as she was in London preparing for the upcoming film “Starfighter” featuring Ryan Gosling, scheduled to start filming in September 2025. Her remarks hinted at a transition towards more self-contained tales within that distant galaxy.
Despite this, Kennedy’s endorsement of this screening might strike George Lucas as particularly painful. It’s worth noting that she was carefully chosen by him to carry on his vision. After more than a decade of working against it in every way possible, Kennedy’s actions here seem the most personally insulting and petty.
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2025-06-15 17:55