[Rumor] The complete Saga 4K Bluray box set in the works

[Reverend]

Which version of the special editions would you go with? Pretty much every time they've been released they've had new tweaks made to them. I would just go with the most recent.

The same applies the the theatrical versions too. Not so much ESB & RotJ but 'Star Wars' was altered in several small ways from it's initial release, to it's wider theatrical run and I think the re-release too. There may have also been some monkeying around in the TV and home movie versions too.

Same thing happened to the prequels, so without even bothering to count the SEs all of the OT movies have at least two different versions, if not more. There's just no pleasing everyone in this scenario.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

I have no clue what this has to do with a home video release of the unaltered original trilogy?

Meaning the draw of the original cast or OT references is the reason for many SW products selling. Rouge One goes without saying about its OT-tied story, while the ST--TFA in particular--drew audience in because the knowledge that the Big Three were coming back.

There will be interest for some. I, for one, would probably pick them up... depending on the quality of the transfer. Enough interest to make $2 billion dollars on home video? I don't think it is close.

It does not need to make 2 billion to be a major hit, as you theorize below.

The original Star Wars trilogy sold three million units on Blu, the complete set also sold roughly 3 million units. Which is six million units. If Disney is clearing say $50 a set, they would walk away with $300 million on a gross of roughly $600 million.

...and if that were a new movie, that would be considered a big success. Not bad for films that are generations old. I would say most studios' old catalog never generate that kind of profit, but the OT does, which means that there's an active interest in it. That's why referenced the original Star Trek's Blu-ray release--it has the unaltered version in addition to the remastered because Paramount knew there's innumerable fans across several generations who wanted TOS cleaned up--but keeping its original FX. Paramount provided that, and arguably made more money with the unaltered series added that it would have if the remastered version was the only option.

The market is constantly shifting. It wouldn't be long before these would be on Disney+ which will weaken the market for the discs.

Yes, it is shifting, but I would prefer owning physical media for some TV series and movies.

 

[crookeddy]

Yes, it is shifting, but I would prefer owning physical media for some TV series and movies.

You would, and I would, but it doesn't appear that the general public does any longer, and they are the so called long tail. The real money makers.

 

[TREK_GOD_1]

You would, and I would, but it doesn't appear that the general public does any longer, and they are the so called long tail. The real money makers.

I hear that, but its sad. Heck, there's still many old films that have never seen the light of day on Blu Ray, and at best have some early years (and low quality) DVDs (e.g. The Incredible Shrinking Man) that only end up in collections because there's no other physical choice. That said, before this media goes away, I would like to see that unaltered SW/OT on Blu Ray, no matter the cost, or oft-recycled special features that are bound to be packaged with it.

 

[crookeddy]

I hear that, but its sad. Heck, there's still many old films that have never seen the light of day on Blu Ray, and at best have some early years (and low quality) DVDs (e.g. The Incredible Shrinking Man) that only end up in collections because there's no other physical choice. That said, before this media goes away, I would like to see that unaltered SW/OT on Blu Ray, no matter the cost, or oft-recycled special features that are bound to be packaged with it.

Now a certain poster will come in here to tell you that there is no such thing as an unaltered cut. What have you done...

 

[Campe]

George Lucas Approved Rare Pre-Special Edition Star Wars Screening

Who knows if this means anything in the conversation of an "original unaltered release" but it is pretty cool. Wish I could have seen it.

Also, some more speculation of a 4K saga release. (scroll down quite a ways)

[O]nce Disney is done releasing all of their Marvel and Pixar product in 4K, there’s only one big franchise left untapped on the format. For all of these reasons, we think it’s likely that we’ll see these films in 4K next year. We already know that the classic trilogy has been scanned from the original negatives (new 4K masters are done and ready), and the prequels will no doubt be upsampled and digitally restored. Whether Disney and Lucasfilm would consider including the original theatrical versions of those classic films is the $24,000 question. My gut tells me to assume they won’t, at this point. Then, if they do, you can be pleasantly surprised. So take that all as a rumor for now and stay tuned for more here as it comes in.

 

[ScottJ85]

Lucasfilm will never "turn back the clock" and pander to an obsessed sliver of Star Wars' overall audience that refuses to accept things as they are.

Thanks to that obsessed sliver of the overall audience, excellent 4K restorations of ANH and ROTJ already exist, with ESB to follow soon.

 

[DigificWriter]

Thanks to that obsessed sliver of the overall audience, excellent 4K restorations of ANH and ROTJ already exist, with ESB to follow soon.

Let's be clear about something.

The audience is there to justify the costs of upscaling/remastering the post-2004 cuts of the Original Trilogy.

The audience is not there, however, to justify the costs of creating from-scratch "remastered" cuts of the OT that ignore the numerous changes that have been made to those films over the years.

 

[ScottJ85]

Let's be clear about something.

The audience is there to justify the costs of upscaling/remastering the post-2004 cuts of the Original Trilogy.

The audience is not there, however, to justify the costs of creating from-scratch "remastered" cuts of the OT that ignore the numerous changes that have been made to those films over the years.

I don’t disagree at all, the theatrical restorations are probably going to remain fan projects forever, and I’m fine with that.

 

[Boris Skrbic]

Let's be clear about something.

The audience is there to justify the costs of upscaling/remastering the post-2004 cuts of the Original Trilogy.

The audience is not there, however, to justify the costs of creating from-scratch "remastered" cuts of the OT that ignore the numerous changes that have been made to those films over the years.

? If anything it’s quite the opposite. You seem to underestimate the power wielded by George Lucas to ignore what the audience wants, even today when Lucasfilm probably prefers to keep him happy so he’ll be available for film endorsements and promotional events.

 

[DigificWriter]

? If anything it’s quite the opposite. You seem to underestimate the power wielded by George Lucas to ignore what the audience wants, even today when Lucasfilm probably prefers to keep him happy so he’ll be available for film endorsements and promotional events.

I'm not sure you understood what I said.

I think it's highly likely that Lucasfilm creates 4K upgrades/remasters of the SW Saga films as presented post-2004 because enough people would buy said upgrades/remasters to justify the costs involved in creating said upgrades/remasters.

However, it is highly unlikely that Lucasfilm would bother to put the time, money, and energy into creating "from-scratch remasters" of the SW Saga films that remove all of the various changes that have been made to said films over the years because there is not a sufficient-enough demand for such "remasters" to justify the effort of manufacturing them.

 

[Boris Skrbic]

I'm not sure you understood what I said.

I think it's highly likely that Lucasfilm creates 4K upgrades/remasters of the SW Saga films as presented post-2004 because enough people would buy said upgrades/remasters to justify the costs involved in creating said upgrades/remasters.

However, it is highly unlikely that Lucasfilm would bother to put the time, money, and energy into creating "from-scratch remasters" of the SW Saga films that remove all of the various changes that have been made to said films over the years because there is not a sufficient-enough demand for such "remasters" to justify the effort of manufacturing them.

No, I’m surprised you don’t understand that (anecdotally) every Star Wars fan would choose the originals over anything 1997+ if they only had one choice (though most fans would probably go for something like the Blade Runner kitchen-sink release of alternate versions). You also seem to misunderstand the effort involved in doing it right: the films in their 1997 form would have to be scanned and edited back, then mastered in 4K as usual. Professional restorationists such as Robert A. Harris, who worked on extremely problematic films like the Godfather trilogy, don’t expect anything unusual here by comparison. Disney isn’t so cheap that they’d keep upgrading 1080p masters from 2004 in the 4K day and age, so if they already had to go back to film, perhaps just to recreate the 2011 versions in 4K, creating the unaltered trilogy would merely be another step.

 

[BillJ]

I can only speak for myself, not sure I have any real interest in buying the Special Edition versions of the original trilogy again (I have them on Blu-ray, DVD, VHS). The holy grail for fans is a cleaned up, hi-def release of the unaltered originals.

 

[fireproof78]

The holy grail for fans is a cleaned up, hi-def release of the unaltered originals.

Maybe I'm strange or whatnot but I don't see the appeal of hidef of the original. The matte lines already appear in the newer updates, and these films were not made with such high resolutions in mind.

Hi-def is just going to make those flaws even more apparent.

 

[BillJ]

Hi-def is just going to make those flaws even more apparent.

It is about seeing/owning it as it was originally intended.

 

[DigificWriter]

No, I’m surprised you don’t understand that (anecdotally) every Star Wars fan would choose the originals over anything 1997+ if they only had one choice (though most fans would probably go for something like the Blade Runner kitchen-sink release of alternate versions). You also seem to misunderstand the effort involved in doing it right: the films in their 1997 form would have to be scanned and edited back, then mastered in 4K as usual. Professional restorationists such as Robert A. Harris, who worked on extremely problematic films like the Godfather trilogy, don’t expect anything unusual here by comparison. Disney isn’t so cheap that they’d keep upgrading 1080p masters from 2004 in the 4K day and age, so if they already had to go back to film, perhaps just to recreate the 2011 versions in 4K, creating the unaltered trilogy would merely be another step.

Completely 100% unaltered versions of the Original Trilogy do not exist.

Therefore, creating them would require being able to find a comprehensive list of every change ever made, scanning whatever cut(s) of the films that were available into a computer, and then going in and painstakingly and individually removing every alteration ever made, which would take up a lot of money and time that would never be recouped.

 

[BillJ]

Therefore, creating them would require being able to find a comprehensive list of every change ever made, scanning whatever cut(s) of the films that were available into a computer, and then going in and painstakingly and individually removing every alteration ever made, which would take up a lot of money and time that would never be recouped.

You mean like they did with all seven seasons of Star Trek: The Next Generation? If Paramount could get 178 episodes rebuilt from the original negatives, I have faith Disney can do it for, what is really, a single movie. I also tend to dismiss your idea that it wouldn't make money, as these Star Wars sells well.

 

[fireproof78]

It is about seeing/owning it as it was originally intended.

I don't think hidef was the original intent.

And, if just owning the original is all that is desired then VHS should suffice, right? I'm genuinely confused by this attitude.

 

[BillJ]

I don't think hidef was the original intent.

Film has a higher resolution than even 4K.

And, if just owning the original is all that is desired then VHS should suffice, right? I'm genuinely confused by this attitude.

I'm baffled by the idea that we should just toss the original in the scrap bin of history. That we shouldn't want new generations of audiences to have access to it.

 

[Boris Skrbic]

Completely 100% unaltered versions of the Original Trilogy do not exist.

Therefore, creating them would require being able to find a comprehensive list of every change ever made, scanning whatever cut(s) of the films that were available into a computer, and then going in and painstakingly and individually removing every alteration ever made, which would take up a lot of money and time that would never be recouped.

Do you know how many people would rebuy such a trilogy?

And it’s not that much work. The negatives are in their 1997 state, so you’d be cutting out the revised portions while putting the original versions back in, then doing the usual mastering process. And most people aren’t going to quibble about the differences that existed between the audio tracks of ANH (the mono track wouldn’t be default) or whether or not the original crawl should be the default setting. The main point is to remove anything from 1997+.

Remember, this is Star Wars, not Star Trek. There is no need to be cheap.