Star Wars: The Complete Saga (1977-2005)

[Alex_DeLarge]

It shouldn't take too long to get the general idea, but once the Empire actually get the jist and give everyone want they want... The Bothan Spies are all that exist. ITS THEIR LOSS!!!

[mrpants]

Any decent guesses as to when TFA will be released on blu?

[CouncilSpectre]

Originally Posted by mrpants

Any decent guesses as to when TFA will be released on blu?

May

[chip75]

Originally Posted by mrpants

Any decent guesses as to when TFA will be released on blu?

There was speculation that it will be April 5th, 2016 in the US. They've moved other products to that date and people have heard the digital release will be in March. But I don't think there's been any official announcement, I think they'll push the theatrical release as far as I can before making a official date.

Others have thought they may take advantage of the May 4th date.

[The Fallen Deity]

Any decent guesses to when the Theatrical Cuts of the OT will get released on BD?

no wait, never mind...




Come on Disney, you're sitting on a gold mine. Release them already!

Pretty please.

[Patient-X]

Originally Posted by Alex_DeLarge

It shouldn't take too long to get the general idea, but once the Empire actually get the jist and give everyone want they want... The Bothan Spies are all that exist. ITS THEIR LOSS!!!

I thought many of those had died, bringing some information apparently...

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Any decent guesses to when the Theatrical Cuts of the OT will get released on BD?

This is what we want:

[Show spoiler]
Criterion releases the OT...

Such a shame it will never happen

[The Fallen Deity]

Originally Posted by Sifox211

This is what we want:

[Show spoiler]
Criterion releases the OT...

Such a shame it will never happen

I just want the TC out on BD. I could care less of who releases them as long as the transfers are good.

We're more likely to get BD releases of The Abyss & Trues Lies before those and that's saying something!

[Albatross365]

Originally Posted by The Fallen Deity

Any decent guesses to when the Theatrical Cuts of the OT will get released on BD?

no wait, never mind...




Come on Disney, you're sitting on a gold mine. Release them already!

Pretty please.

I think I read somewhere that the rights to Ep IV have always been separate and belong to Lucas but he sold the rights to rights to the franchise etc. so I think the OT on Blu is never going happen while Lucas is alive. It might have been part of the deal too.

Bet he has something written into his will too.

[rapta]

I thought Fox have Episode IV outright (although their physical distribution expires in 2020), but Lucasfilm/Disney now have the other two (plus the prequels). Disney could very well try and outright buy Episode IV from Fox, although they could also collaborate on a release strategy eventually, but the question would be why that hasn't happened already. So maybe Lucasfilm/Disney will wait 'til 2020 to finally release these, or maybe between them they'll actually sort it out in time for the 40th Anniversary next year as well as the release of Rian Johnson's film in cinemas (and Rogue One on Blu-ray the same year).

I do wonder if Lucas might still be causing some problems - perhaps he doesn't want fans to be able to get hold of the original theatrical versions? Though from interviews you'd get the impression he would just let go by now and let it happen? After all, these are what a majority of fans want to get hold of...

[Brightstar]

20th Century Fox retains the physical distribution rights to the first two Star Wars trilogies, owning permanent rights for the original 1977 film

Disney need to make a deal with 20th century fox so we can get the UOT

[chip75]

Fox own distribution rights to A New Hope's theatrical, home video and non theatrical releases. Lucasfilm own the movie.

Lucasfilm have non theatrical distribution rights to Episodes I-III's and Episodes V's and VI's. Fox have distribution rights to Episodes I-III's and Episodes V's and VI's theatrical and home video releases until 2020. Lucasfilm own all the movies.

Lucasfilm can do what they like, when they like.

It's doubtful that George Lucas had any clauses written into the sale, they'd still be going over the sales contracts if Lucas owned the original theatrical versions or their release agreements. Everything went to Lucasfilm after the sale, that would have included all the elements and everything else in the Lucasfilm archives.

The only issue pre-sale regarding the originals release was Lucas's wishes, now there's nothing stopping Lucasfilm releasing them, it's just a matter of time, money and the sweet-spot to put them out to the public. I'd wager 2017 would be the ideal time, it's going to be a big year for the original Star Wars, no matter what else is released, so I imagine Disney will try and take advantage of the 40th Anniversary.

[Brightstar]

The fans are tired of waiting Anniversary after Anniversary and fans dont get what they want . This is the Holy Grail of them all and fans would love to see it in 4k!

[Scorpion Soldier]

Originally Posted by Brightstar

20th Century Fox retains the physical distribution rights to the first two Star Wars trilogies, owning permanent rights for the original 1977 film

Disney need to make a deal with 20th century fox so we can get the UOT

Disney'll make a deal with Fox regarding distribution, there's simply no doubt about that.

[Geoff D]

Very simply: Lucasfilm owns ALL the movies. Period. Fox have rights to distribute the first 6 on most media until 2020, whereupon the distribution of I, II, III, V, VI will revert to LFL (and thus Disney). The distribution of IV is indeed held in perpetuity by Fox, as proved by the retention of the recent digital version whereas the other five were released by Disney, but this is not some major obstacle as studios collaborate on things like box sets all the time (Disney and Fox did the same thing on the Euro releases of the Die Hard films, for example) and it's still LFL's property for them to tell Fox what to do with it, Fox can't just release something off their own back.

And, even simpler: THERE DOES NOT NEED TO BE A 'DEAL' FOR THE UOT TO BE RELEASED BEFORE 2020 BECAUSE SUCH A DEAL BETWEEN LFL AND FOX ALREADY EXISTS AND WILL COVER EXACTLY SUCH AN EVENTUALITY.

[Brightstar]

The other thing is they have to check the negatives and how badly damaged they are. They have to fix them and then scan them (remember they are nearly 40 years old)

[Geoff D]

The negatives were given a photochemical restoration 20 years ago. Even if they've deteriorated since then they can do wonders with separation masters to restore colour to faded negatives, never mind the vast suite of digital tools that can be used to fix warping, shrinkage, damage etc.

Honestly, the only barrier to restoring the original versions of the SW trilogy is having the corporate will to spend the necessary funds (likely in the 7 figures) to restore all three movies. We know that Lowry did a 16-bit 4K restoration back in 2012, we don't know what versions they were but it's a start. Even if Disney only re-release the SEs, at least there's a new 4K version waiting in the wings rather than the wildly uneven 2004 transfers used for the Blu-rays.

[Brightstar]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

The negatives were given a photochemical restoration 20 years ago. Even if they've deteriorated since then they can do wonders with separation masters to restore colour to faded negatives, never mind the vast suite of digital tools that can be used to fix warping, shrinkage, damage etc.

Honestly, the only barrier to restoring the original versions of the SW trilogy is having the corporate will to spend the necessary funds (likely in the 7 figures) to restore all three movies. We know that Lowry did a 16-bit 4K restoration back in 2012, we don't know what versions they were but it's a start. Even if Disney only re-release the SEs, at least there's a new 4K version waiting in the wings rather than the wildly uneven 2004 transfers used for the Blu-rays.

4k version with even more changes? no thanks i would rather wait for the UOT. The last time the theatrical releases came out where back in 1995 on VHS and then the SE in 97

There is a very strong chance that the UOT will be out in 2017

[Sifox211]

Originally Posted by Fnord Prefect

[Show spoiler]£25 each, customs roulette and region A locked? No, we don't...

I get what you're saying, but more likely to be a box set, available for $40 during the B&N sale...

For region coding, that could be an interesting one. After all, the current OT disks are region free. Imagine if Criterion were to follow up on their hints about going to international markets...

[chip75]

This was £10 in my local Tesco's. Their Star Wars aisle was gone and this was over the other end by the crisps and biscuits.