Kennedy Assures Fans: Viewing Original 1977 Star Wars Cut Not 'Illegal'

The British Film Institute recently hosted a rare and historic event for *Star Wars* fans—the first public screening of the original print of *Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope* since 1978. The special showing took place at the BFI Film on Film Festival in London on June 12, with Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy present to introduce the film and reassure attendees that the screening was fully authorized.

As reported by GamesRadar, Kennedy opened with a lighthearted remark: “I’m here to… make sure that you don’t think that this is an illegal screening.” She went on to emphasize the rarity and significance of the print being shown, noting how its history has become the stuff of legend.

“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.”

She also reflected on the many revisions George Lucas made over the years, which eventually led to the more widely known 1997 Special Edition. “There’s so much tinkering that’s gone on over the years, and things that George decided, ‘I’m gonna change this, I’m gonna try that.’ And then, everybody kind of lost track of what it was,” she explained.

This particular print had been preserved under strict conditions—stored at 23 degrees Fahrenheit—to maintain its visual integrity. According to the BFI, the screening offered audiences a chance to experience the film exactly as it appeared during its original 1977 release.

“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.”

Though this cut of the film has occasionally surfaced on VHS over the years, it has largely remained out of circulation, as George Lucas himself preferred to keep the original version hidden. Shortly after the film’s debut, he began making changes that ultimately led to the creation of the 1997 Special Edition—which has since become the most accessible version for fans.

The screening not only gave fans a glimpse into cinematic history but also reignited discussions around the evolution of the film. Below are some of the most notable and controversial changes introduced in the Special Edition: