Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Mavrick

So what's the deal with the home video releases. I remember I said before that Fox still had the rights to release on home video until something like 2020 and I was told that's incorrect.

And now these re-releases are still from FOX not Disney. So what's the deal? I don't think we will see Disney release any of the original trilogy until the rights expire in 2020. So an UOT release couldn't possibly come from Disney before that time could it?

Fox has theatrical, nontheatrical and home video distribution rights until 2020 (as far as I can tell). Disney have streaming rights for Episodes I-III, V, and VI. Fox own distribution rights for A New Hope for all media (for all time).

Disney can release what they like when they like, it's just distributed by Fox. Fox couldn't re-issue the new releases, I'd imagine it's Disney behind it and not Fox, Fox can't do it independently. Remember distribution rights and the rights to release motion-picture are two very different things.

The new Disney versions of the five films are now out there streaming, without the FOX logo. Only Episode IV retains the fanfare.

Disney own the films, they can restore them and release them, it's just Fox that will distribute them through theatrical, nontheatrical and home video means.

[Rob89]

Originally Posted by chip75

Fox has theatrical, nontheatrical and home video distribution rights until 2020 (as far as I can tell). Disney have streaming rights for Episodes I-III, V, and VI. Fox own distribution rights for A New Hope for all media (for all time).

Disney can release what they like when they like, it's just distributed by Fox. Fox couldn't re-issue the new releases, I'd imagine it's Disney behind it and not Fox, Fox can't do it independently. Remember distribution rights and the rights to release motion-picture are two very different things.

The new Disney versions of the five films are now out there streaming, without the FOX logo. Only Episode IV retains the fanfare.

Disney own the films, they can restore them and release them, it's just Fox that will distribute them through theatrical, nontheatrical and home video means.

Yeah heard about this. It isn't the same without the 20th Century Fox fanfare. I think i'll just download the de-specialized editions in time for Episode VII. The blu-ray could be years away anyway.

[The Apocalypse]

I've always thought the return on investment for releasing the remastered unaltered original trilogy would be well worth the expense paid for restoring them, they would sell very well indeed.

[BouCoupDinkyDau]

Originally Posted by DaveSimonH

Personally though, I won't be buying until they release the original theatrical trilogy. If that means that I'll never own Star Wars on blu-ray, so be it. It may sound like I'm cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I find the "Special" editions changes so distracting its not worth it for me.

I bought the OT SE BDs because I thought, "something is better than nothing."

I don't even watch them. They're coasters.

[RazorwireRyan]

Despecialized Editions all the way for me, even though I own the Complete Sage box set. I'll watch those for the commentaries and features, and the prequels of course, but that's it.

[Mavrick]

Was there ever any truth in the rumour that Lucas ex wife would get royalties from the UOT releases so there was reluctance there to release them, or is that pure internet speculation?

I've always thought that Lucas was just that embarrassed by the original works for not getting them to look just the way he liked and that was the reason behind him not wanting them to get a major release. They say an artist is never satisfied with his work.

[chip75]

Originally Posted by Mavrick

Was there ever any truth in the rumour that Lucas ex wife would get royalties from the UOT releases so there was reluctance there to release them, or is that pure internet speculation?

I've always thought that Lucas was just that embarrassed by the original works for not getting them to look just the way he liked and that was the reason behind him not wanting them to get a major release. They say an artist is never satisfied with his work.

There was certainly speculation that some actors didn't receive bonuses because the films were still classed as going concerns by the accountants (I've heard that with other films too) and I think they led to other rumours. I can't imagine any divorce lawyer worth their salt would put up and give up with "they're not finished ... you can't have your cut yet!" I'd imagine it was settled years ago, we just haven't heard much from Marcia and the movies made their bulk income before the special editions were released. The sums she would get from the originals theses days would be far less.

I don't think there's any reason why an Oscar winning film should make a director embarrassed. And the good thing is compositing is so good digitally these days they may be able to make the originals look like he always wanted, I think the original model work was pretty good.

Artists do need to let go and once a film is out there they should accept that, I understand the desire to make special editions, but unless the original release is extremely limited they shouldn't try and supress it, they should let it live alongside their updated versions. I'd be thrilled if we got the original cuts of all six movies and new special editions, then we can move onto the new trilogies ...

[scott87]

I just want the empire of dreams documentary as one of the extras, I still don't understand why it was missed off the blu-rays in the first place

[chip75]

Originally Posted by scott87

I just want the empire of dreams documentary as one of the extras, I still don't understand why it was missed off the blu-rays in the first place

They rarely repeat the bonus features, but it recently popped up on Sky and NOW TV's movie selection, both the long and the short version. I still think at least the long one is in SAD, but the short one has excerpts in HD on YouTube, so I'll have to check to see if that's in HD or SD.

[pantscratcher]

Originally Posted by DaveSimonH

Why go the expense of remastering the original cuts (or even just the scenes with changes) when you can rehash the same discs and pull a new packaging type out of the hat every year? This time its steelbooks;

Maybe next year it will digibooks, then in 2017 collectors giftsets etc.


Personally though, I won't be buying until they release the original theatrical trilogy. If that means that I'll never own Star Wars on blu-ray, so be it. It may sound like I'm cutting off my nose to spite my face, but I find the "Special" editions changes so distracting its not worth it for me.

But that's what I mean.
Only the true original versions will be the way to entice buyers and not make them feel ripped off.
I'm sure the mugs out there who may buy the steelbooks and any other way to repackage the same discs they already have may also feel slightly ripped off.
I did buy the boxset ( fortunately a used one for £30 some years back) but the original versions would be the only way to make me buy again

[rapta]

From what I understand, despite Disney now owning Lucasfilm, Fox still own the rights to distribute the The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi in physical format (so Blu-ray and DVD) until May 2020, when the rights fall back into Lucasfilm's hands (and therefore Disney's). And Fox still own all rights for Star Wars (aka A New Hope) indefinitely - in other words, unless they sold them to Disney eventually (which they wouldn't do without asking for hell of a lot of money).

My guess is that Fox will surely release the Theatrical Editions whilst these new Star Wars films are coming out in cinemas. They'd be stupid not to. That is unless through some complications, Lucasfilm are refusing to let them release the Theatrical Editions for some reason, or at least not giving them access to the materials so they can remaster them (or otherwise make them fit for Blu-ray release). In which case we would have to wait 'til 2020 at least for Disney to get these out there, and Fox for the first film (and maybe they would collaborate in some capacity for a box set release).

In other news, Kathleen Kennedy/Disney just made the terrible choice of confirming Colin Trevorrow as the director of Episode IX. Up until now I have generally agreed with all their decisions - Abrams, 35mm, Williams, Kasdan, all of the cast, IMAX, Johnson, Edwards' spinoff, Trank exiting possible Boba Fett movie, even appointing Lord & Miller for a Han Solo prequel. But this is definitely bad news for the new trilogy, and - I barely say this - I hope it DOESN'T work out for him and he exits the project (like Trank did). Jurassic World is definitely the biggest disappointment for me this year. It's not just a lousy sequel, it's a lousy film as well, and Safety Not Guaranteed was probably the most apt title for a previous film by a director so out of his depth on these studio films.

[RazorwireRyan]

I think it'd cost too much to go back and restore the original cuts. It's money they don't need to spend, because people give buying the versions that are out really. Not enough incentive. Thing that gets me is how Lucas was all about preserving films as they were originally released back in the 80s. It's a shame that Kershner and Marquand seemingly had no say in their films being tinkered with over the years, a lot of people forget that.

Yeah, Trevorrow. Disney had to f up sometime.

[rapta]

Yeah true, but you'd think they'd see it as being worth the investment. If a new Star Wars film is coming out every year and fans have been begging for the Theatrical Editions for years, if they came up with restored Theatrical Editions I'm pretty sure it'd be release-of-the-year stuff for even the vaguest of Star Wars fans - Fox would be spending barely anything in comparison to what Disney will be spending on the franchise over the next 5 years, and would be cashing in on the interest built up around these new ones. Still, I'd be happy with them using whatever materials they already have and I'm sure they'd scan them properly anyway...luckily Fox don't usually screw things up in that regard.

And yes we could go on all day about Lucas but the simple fact is, don't buy his films if they're just the tinkered-with versions. That said, I do have THX 1138 and that he also screwed around with...which was completely unnecessary, but not as tragic as it was on the original Star Wars Trilogy. I'm of the belief that until they release the untampered Theatrical Editions, on Blu-ray in some way or form (even if it's with the Special Editions like the 2004 DVD releases were), they're not getting a penny of my money. I'm sure that's the same for a lot of other fans.

[Markgway]

Originally Posted by pantscratcher

Surely adding the original versions in good quality is the only way they can sucker buyers into purchasing a complete boxset again?

If you put Yoda on a toilet roll some people would buy it... and keep it!

As long as Lucas can make money out of Star Wars fans whilst getting his own way... he will.

I don't know what the arrangement is between Lucasfilm and Fox, but if Fox can't (or don't care enough to) put out the theatrical cuts now, with a new movie on the way... that's probably the end of the matter. The millions it would cost for full restoration could be written off as advertising...

I don't see Disney being much help in the foreseeable future.

[scott87]

Originally Posted by chip75

They rarely repeat the bonus features, but it recently popped up on Sky and NOW TV's movie selection, both the long and the short version. I still think at least the long one is in SAD, but the short one has excerpts in HD on YouTube, so I'll have to check to see if that's in HD or SD.

Cheers dude, I saw it listed on sky movies. I still have the DVD version from a few years ago when they first released the trilogy on DVD.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by chip75

I don't think there's any reason why an Oscar winning film should make a director embarrassed. And the good thing is compositing is so good digitally these days they may be able to make the originals look like he always wanted, I think the original model work was pretty good.

Man, I'd love it if they went back to the original cuts and recomp'ed all the VFX, including all that lovely large format stuff (which, for example, Warners did at 6K for the Blade Runner Final Cut). I think Lucas got so used to seeing his movie (which he wasn't satisfied with anyway) looking grotty and beat-up in the years following its release that he always thought it wouldn't hold up, but with a bit of digital TLC I think they'd look amazing.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Markgway

If you put Yoda on a toilet roll some people would buy it... and keep it!

As long as Lucas can make money out of Star Wars fans whilst getting his own way... he will.

I don't know what the arrangement is between Lucasfilm and Fox, but if Fox can't (or don't care enough to) put out the theatrical cuts now, with a new movie on the way... that's probably the end of the matter. The millions it would cost for full restoration could be written off as advertising...

I don't see Disney being much help in the foreseeable future.

It's not that Fox don't care enough to; the simple answer is THEY DON'T OWN THE FILMS so they cannot control what's done with the content itself because that's entirely LFL's purview, and always has been. Sorry for the emphasis, I don't mean to shout at you but people are still not getting it when it's all so simple. LFL says "jump", Fox says "how high", that's about the size of it.

If the remastered originals are going to happen then it will be purely LFL's decision, and if they are to be released before 2020 then that will fall under Fox's distribution deal. Disney may influence LFL to hold back on the remasters until the Fox deal expires, but if they want to take advantage of the 40th anniversary in 2017 then they'll have to bite the bullet and let Fox take their share.

We know that there has been a 4K trilogy restoration performed by Lowry/Reliance so another version WILL be coming, whether they are the originals or not is uncertain. It's possible that Lowry were given the conformed SE negatives to restore and that the original edits will then be reconstituted in-house at LFL, but no-one knows at this point.

[robgmun]

What frustrates me is just how far Lucus went, I actually liked some of the cheanges/clean ups but then it went far too far

I'm going to be showing my girlfriend the Star Wars Trilogy next week because of the up coming movies and this is what I'm going to do.

Star Wars = Despecialized Edition up until just before the MF leave Mos Eisley, then the rest the Blu-ray

ESB = Blu-Ray

ROTJ = Despecialized Edition all the way

[rapta]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's not that Fox don't care enough to; the simple answer is THEY DON'T OWN THE FILMS so they cannot control what's done with the content itself because that's entirely LFL's purview, and always has been. Sorry for the emphasis, I don't mean to shout at you but people are still not getting it when it's all so simple. LFL says "jump", Fox says "how high", that's about the size of it.

If the remastered originals are going to happen then it will be purely LFL's decision, and if they are to be released before 2020 then that will fall under Fox's distribution deal. Disney may influence LFL to hold back on the remasters until the Fox deal expires, but if they want to take advantage of the 40th anniversary in 2017 then they'll have to bite the bullet and let Fox take their share.

We know that there has been a 4K trilogy restoration performed by Lowry/Reliance so another version WILL be coming, whether they are the originals or not is uncertain. It's possible that Lowry were given the conformed SE negatives to restore and that the original edits will then be reconstituted in-house at LFL, but no-one knows at this point.

But even when Fox's distribution rights for the films run out in 2020, they still have sole rights for A New Hope indefinitely. So would either have to release that themselves or sort something out with Lucasfilm/Disney to release a trilogy set. It's a mess.

[Geoff D]

It's a small wrinkle IMO, not a mess. LFL/Disney own the copyright on all the movies, characters, stories and all related indicia, and once 2020 arrives they'll have all distribution rights to 5 out of 6 original movies with many more that they're making themselves. Even though they won't have the distribution rights to Ep IV people seem to think that Fox have them over a barrel; they don't. Studios get together all the time to release box sets of multi-ownership franchises, Terminator and Die Hard being prime examples. In fact the latter is particularly pertinent because Touchstone/Disney have the UK/Euro rights to Die Hard With A Vengeance while the others are all Fox (a reversal of the impending SW situation), and there have been Die Hard box sets since the VHS days without problems.