Fans of the iconic “Star Wars” franchise will have the rare opportunity to see the original 1977 version of the film in London this summer. The British Film Institute (BFI) will screen the movie on June 12, 2025, during its Film on Film festival. This version of Star Wars, which includes the original scenes and characters as they were first seen in theaters, has not been widely available since George Lucas made significant changes to the trilogy in the 1990s.
The 1977 release of Star Wars featured a memorable scene where Han Solo shoots first in the Mos Eisley cantina, and Jabba the Hutt is only mentioned by name. These moments, along with other original elements, were altered in the special editions of the film, sparking strong reactions from fans.
Since the original version’s release, it has rarely been shown to the public. Many fans have sought ways to see it again, with fan-made edits circulating online. Official releases of the film are limited, available only through an out-of-print VHS or a low-quality 2006 DVD bonus feature.
Lucas, who made the changes to the film, once explained in 2004 that he wanted Star Wars to be the way he envisioned it, despite the film’s original fanbase connecting with the earlier version. One of the most criticized changes was the revision of the scene where Han Solo shoots the bounty hunter Greedo. In the 1997 special edition, Greedo shoots first, with Solo acting in self-defense. Further edits changed the scene to make both characters fire nearly simultaneously, and then exactly at the same time.
Another unpopular alteration was the CGI addition of Jabba the Hutt. Originally, Jabba was only seen in Return of the Jedi (1983), but the 1997 edition added a sequence where Solo steps on Jabba’s tail, with a computer-generated version of the character.
James Bell, senior curator of fiction at the BFI National Archive, said the Film on Film festival’s goal is to show original prints of films, allowing modern audiences to experience movies in the same way they were originally seen. The screening of the 1977 Star Wars will give fans the chance to relive the movie as it was first presented in cinemas.
Lucasfilm and Disney have approved the screening of the original Star Wars cut, but there are no plans to show the original versions of The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi.
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