Sorry Star Wars fans – the original theatrical versions won’t be re-released

The dust has settled after Star Wars Celebration and fans are getting excited about the future of the series, whether it’s The Last Jedi, Han Solo, future film spin-off’s or, as many had hoped, a potential re-release of the original, unaltered Star Wars trilogy.

The films, first released in 1977, 1980 and 1983, were digitally updated by George Lucas and Lucasfilm when in 1997 in lieu of the release of The Phantom Menace in 1999. But fans have been petitioning to get the original versions released on DVD and Blu-ray ever since as the only versions available on home entertainment are the newer versions.

Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy, who is overseeing all of the Star Wars films, has shot down fans’ hopes and said that there are no plans to re-release those original versions. Speaking to the Steele Wars Podcast, Kennedy said:

“I wouldn’t touch those, are you kidding me?… Those will always remain his.”

With the 40th anniversary of A New Hope landing this year, it was rumoured that a new Blu-ray boxset was going to be announced but with Kennedy shooting down those hopes, it’s looking like another long wait to see the original films.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi is due for release on December 17th.