Original Star Wars returning to theatres for 50th anniversary
If you missed the chance to see Star Wars in the theatre in 1977 — or weren't yet born — you'll get another chance on Feb. 19, when Disney re-releases both the original film and a 70-millimetre Imax version to mark its 50th anniversary.
Disney also marking the year with 2nd season of Ahsoka and the new movie Star Wars: Starfighter
Philip Drost · CBC News
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Missed the initial release of Star Wars in 1977? Maybe you thought it looked weird, didn't want to line up for tickets, or — if you're under 50 — you just weren't born yet.
You'll get another chance on Feb. 19, when Disney re-releases both the original film and a 70-millimetre Imax version to mark its anniversary.
"It is incredibly special to mark the 50th anniversary by returning the original version of Star Wars to theatres so audiences can experience this part of film history on the big screen," said Lynwen Brennan, co-president of Lucasfilm, in a press release.
This won't be the first time Star Wars — now also known as Star Wars: A New Hope — has returned to theatres. For its 20th anniversary, in 1997, creator George Lucas rereleased it with a number of changes, including some CGI touchups, additional scenes and — infamously — the villainous Greedo shooting at Han Solo first in the Mos Eisley Cantina scene.
Disney — which bought the franchise and Lucasfilm in 2012 — says the upcoming release will be a "restored version" of the 1977 film.
The franchise has been under the leadership of Brennan and Dave Filoni since Kathleen Kennedy stepped down in January.
The re-release is part of a slate of projects for 2027, which will also include a new season of the live-action series Ahsoka, a documentary on the making of A New Hope, and the theatrical release of Star Wars: Starfighter.
Ryan Gosling, left, and Shawn Levy speak on stage at Comic-Con in San Diego, Calif., on July 25, 2026. Levy will direct Gosling in next year's new Star Wars film. (Amy Sussman/Getty Images)
The new movie will hit theatres on May 28 and feature a pair of Canadians.
Ryan Gosling (The Fall Guy, Blade Runner 2049) will star as a cynical rogue (sound familiar?) who has a mysterious past and is thrust into a galactic adventure, working under Montreal-born director Shawn Levy, best known for Big Fat Liar, Night at the Museum and, most recently, Deadpool & Wolverine.
The film will take place five years after the events of 2019's The Rise of Skywalker, according to Lucasfilm.
It will be the first Star Wars film in theatres since last year's The Mandalorian and Grogu, which broke the drought since Rise of Skywalker but grossed just $345.8 US million worldwide, making it the franchise's lowest grossing live-action film ever.
WATCH | Ahsoka season 2 trailer:
The franchise has recently had better luck on the small screen and will release the second season of Ahsoka on Disney+ on Jan. 20, bringing back both Rosario Dawson as the titular former jedi and Hayden Christensen as Anakin Skywalker.
It will pick up where the first season left off, as Ahsoka chases down Grand Admiral Thrawn, a former leader of the Empire who has once again declared war on the Rebel Alliance.
The show will also feature Rory McCann as the recast antagonist Baylan Skol, following the death of Ray Stevenson in 2023.
The documentary The Hero Awakens will be released on Disney+ on May 4 — also known as Star Wars Day.
From filmmaker R.J. Cutler, best known for documentaries such as 1993's The War Room and The September Issue it will, according to a press release, feature never-seen-before archival footage and audio from the making of the 1977 film.
A new poster for 1977's Star Wars by artist Matt Ferguson marks its return to theatres in 2027. (Walt Disney Studios)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Philip Drost is a network senior writer for CBC News based in Fredericton. You can reach him at philip.drost@cbc.ca.
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