Original 1977 Star Wars Returning to Theaters in 2027 for 50th Anniversary Celebration

Lucasfilm has officially confirmed that the unaltered 1977 version of Star Wars — originally released simply as Star Wars and later retitled A New Hope — will return to theaters for a limited run beginning February 19, 2027. The studio moved the release up from the previously rumored April window to help launch the franchise’s 50th anniversary celebrations.

A Rare Theatrical Return of the Original 1977 Cut

This re-release marks the first wide theatrical showing of the film in its original, unmodified form in decades. Fans will once again experience the movie without the Special Edition changes introduced by George Lucas in the late 1990s — including the highly debated Han vs. Greedo cantina scene, preserved exactly as it appeared in 1977.

For many longtime fans and film historians, this return of the unaltered cut is significant, offering a chance to revisit the groundbreaking space epic as audiences first saw it nearly half a century ago.

A Major Part of the 50th Anniversary Events

The February re-release will help lead into a year full of franchise milestones, including:

• Star Wars Celebration 2027 in Los Angeles, scheduled for April

• Special screenings, merchandise drops, and retrospective panels

• New commemorative content across Disney and Lucasfilm platforms

With the fandom more active than ever, 2027 is already shaping up to be one of the biggest celebratory years in Star Wars history.

A Big-Screen Experience for Old and New Fans

The theatrical return gives both longtime devotees and newer generations — many of whom have only seen the film through home releases that included later edits — a chance to experience Star Wars in its purest, most nostalgic form.

celebrate 50 years of a galaxy far, far away when Star Wars: A New Hope returns to theaters February 19, 2027: https://t.co/bV9wA5gKRN pic.twitter.com/mceLC01wV7

— Star Wars (@starwars) December 5, 2025