George Lucas Says His Changes to The Original Star Wars Trilogy Were Justified as Movies Always Get 'Yanked Out of Your Hands' For Release
Star Wars creator George Lucas has defended his frequent tweaks to the series' original movies, while acknowledging "a lot of people got upset" about the changes.
George Lucas, the creator of the Star Wars franchise, has defended his numerous revisions to the original trilogy of films. These modifications, which began with the 1997 Special Edition release and continued through later DVD and Blu-ray releases, have sparked intense debate among fans. Despite the backlash, Lucas maintains that his changes were necessary to complete the stories he originally intended.
He explained in an interview with CBS that most movies are not finished when they are released; instead, filmmakers often have to meet production deadlines and make compromises. Lucas added that he went back after the original Star Wars trilogy and redid the movies to ensure they were finished as he envisioned them. While some changes, like minor technical fixes, may go unnoticed by casual viewers, others, such as altering scenes to link the original trilogy with Lucas' subsequent prequel movies, have drawn significant criticism.
The most infamous of these changes involves the "who shot first?" debate in A New Hope, which was altered in the 1997 Special Edition and further modified in later releases. Lucas acknowledged that the negative reactions to his edits have contributed to his decision to sell the franchise to Disney. However, he emphasized that fans have the right to voice their opinions, and it is ultimately Lucas' decision to make changes to his work.
The original Star Wars movie will be shown in theaters for a limited time in February 2027, providing fans with a chance to experience the film in its 1977 form, unaltered by Lucas' subsequent modifications.
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