Ya know what I want? I want the version of Star Wars that won six Academy Awards back in 1978. What is available now, while having a resemblance to that movie, is not the same. I understand that several versions of that film exist. I get that. I get that It was not the film that Lucas wanted and the SEs are closer. Still, that’s the film I want to take home with me. There is something to say about having a version of this film for posterity’s sake. If that’s allowing for several audio or visual versions, so be it. If they can do something like this for Blade Runner, why can’t they do it for Star Wars?
Not enough to offset the time and costs involved in producing such a Trilogy, because most Star Wars fans don't give a shit about the changes that have been made to the OT over the years. Because what you want doesn't exist.
If I'm remembering correctly, the revisions have nothing to do with "artistic vision" and more to do with changing them just enough to keep his ex-wife from continuing to profit off the movies. I think you're completely wrong there.
Well, when you put it that way...I personally don't see the broad spectrum appeal, nor do I think that is respectful of what Lucas would want. That's the first I've heard of it. So, I might be wrong. Still, this demand strikes me as very odd nonetheless.
When Lucasfilm did release "original" cuts of the OT, the money they got out of said releases - which weren't even what people wanted and weren't very good, qualitatively - was a pittance because the vast majority of SW fans didn't care enough to actually buy the "original" versions as offered. In the 15 years since that time, the SW fandom has only gotten larger and much more populated with people whose "definitive" versions of the films are the "Special Edition" cuts and are therefore what they would be interested in purchasing if remastered/given a high-gloss update. The amount of people, in the grand scheme of things, who would buy "original" versions of Episodes IV-VI was small 15 years ago, and it's only gotten smaller still since then.
Okay, man... whatever you say. I have heard that before but I’m not certain there’s any actual evidence to suggest how true it is. I think it’s as much of a rumor as the constant “Kathy Kennedy fucked up Star Wars so bad she’s going to be fired!” stuff.
Kathleen Kennedy seems reluctant to release the originals as well. That doesn't stop Disney, but she is not exactly inclined towards it.
The non-anamorphic release of 1993 laserdisc masters was extremely substandard even for DVD at the time, so that’s hardly the best indicator of interest, and you’re confusing what people are used to with what people would demand be given priority at any cost: after all, the original versions are better storytelling (Han shooting first, no Jabba scene with duplicate info, Vader’s silent decision in ROTJ as opposed to “Nooo!”, punchier lines in TESB like “You’re lucky you don’t taste very good!” and “Bring my shuttle!”). The latest versions can easily be made available in parallel, so it’s not like even the younger fans are unlikely to accept such multi-version releases and probably change their mind almost immediately. In short, you’re speaking theoretically like someone who doesn’t interact with Star Wars releases and fandom on a daily basis.
I wouldn’t be surprised if she has instructions from Lucas to do whatever she can to halt any releases. But, like you say, if Disney wants, Disney will do.
It’s fairly obvious that Lucas’s continued endorsement has to be weighed against whatever money would be made from one “rogue” release.
Ten years in retail has taught me one thing-that what people say they will buy versus what they will actually buy are two different things.
I stand by the conviction of my position that there just isn't enough of a demand for "original" versions of the OT films to warrant the time and money that would have to be spent creating said versions, based both on the reality of the size of the SW fandom and what a majority of said fandom have been exposed to and are therefore going to 'want' and on comments from individuals who understand consumerism and supply and demand, as well as the overall nature of the SW fandom, better than I do.
Look, people can wish and want all they want. If they hope for a release of these films as they were seen prior to the SE (whatever that may look like), that’s their choice. I hope it’s going to happen but that doesn’t mean I think it will. I think that it’s more than likely that there is something that’s holding the release back (other than consumerism, because frankly even if they charge a huge premium for the release, some fans will buy). Probably a wish from Lucas to not do so for whatever reason. To break it down: there is nothing wrong with dreaming, even if it isn’t likely to happen.
You seem to be under the impression that after the films had been recut, all the deleted elements and their copies were destroyed along with any references needed to put them back together even on Disney’s budget, which is simply nonsense. Star Wars fans want any version of these films in 4K, so a company of that scale isn’t going to stick with the 1080p master from the 2000s forever, and if they go back to film then they can reedit it any way they want. This is Star Wars we’re talking about, not an independent film with a niche audience.
Instead of getting hung up on the term "original", most people would probably be satisfied with an up resolution version of the film that was releases as the old VHS home video releases or the THX remastered sound releases from before the Special Edition was made.