On June 12, 2025, Lucasfilm President Kathleen Kennedy made a surprise appearance at the BFI Film on Film Festival in London to introduce a historic screening of the original 1977 print of Star Wars, later subtitled Episode IV: A New Hope (yes, it really wasn’t called Episode 4 at first).
This ultra-rare, Technicolor dye-transfer print was shown publicly for the first time since 1978, drawing enthusiastic crowds and sparking excitement among fans.
Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker, Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia, and Alec Guinness as Obi-Wan Kenobi Star Wars: A New Hope (1977), Lucasfilm
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How was it even possible for this print to exist? Apparently it was quietly preserved in the BFI National Archive all this time.
Upon taking the stage, Kennedy jokingly addressed concerns about the screening’s legitimacy, stating, “I’m here to make sure that you don’t think this is an illegal screening.”
Yes, apparently some fans actually thought it was illegal to show this cut. Kennedy’s presence underscored the event’s significance, as she emphasized the print’s rarity, noting, “I’m not even sure there’s another one quite like it.”
George Lucas via AMC+ YouTube
Sadly, while the screening itself was legit, it certainly wasn’t done with the blessing of George Lucas, the original creator of Star Wars, whose disapproval of the unaltered cut is almost legendary at this point. It’s the reason why so few of the original cuts still exist.
The screening showcased Star Wars as it was experienced originally by audiences in 1977, before Lucas’s extensive edits, including the controversial change where Greedo fires at Han Solo first in the Mos Eisley cantina scene. Kennedy highlighted the print’s “incredible folklore,” revealing that even when she joined Lucasfilm in 2012, debates persisted about the location and authenticity of the first print.
The BFI’s discovery of this well-preserved reel, stored at 23 degrees Fahrenheit, was described as a “miracle” by BFI Chief Executive Ben Roberts.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 07: Kathleen Kennedy attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 attends the studio panel at Star Wars Celebration 2023 in London at ExCel on April 07, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for Disney)
Kennedy’s remarks further framed the original film as the “gold standard” for the Star Wars franchise, stating, “This is the film everyone starts with when we start talking about story, George’s intent, and what it is we’re trying to build off of.”
It’s of course important to point out that George’s intent was that this particular cut should be locked away to never be shown again. Rumor even has it that when Lucas sold Lucasfilm to Disney, there was a particular clause in the contract forbidding such a screening. Be that as it may, the BFI audience (which included director Edgar Wright) certainly didn’t seem to mind.
George Lucas via Laurent Touil-Tartour YouTube
Kennedy’s attendance also provided a platform to discuss the future of Star Wars, as she was in London preparing for the upcoming film Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling, set to begin shooting in September 2025. Her comments seemingly confirmed a shift towards more standalone stories in that galaxy far, far away.
Kathleen Kennedy via Producer’s Guild of America YouTube
Be that as it may, Kennedy’s endorsement of this screening is certainly something George Lucas might take personally. Keep in mind, she was handpicked by him as his successor to keep his vision alive. After over a decade of doing everything possible to undermine it, this particular act by Kennedy somehow feels the most personal and petty.
How do you feel about Kathleen Kennedy endorsing this Star Wars screening? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
So… if Kennedy wants to do something good… put it on bluray.
Kennedy has a cheek, telling us that Lucas’s movie is a “starting point”. The man-hater has destroyed his legacy.
Even when she’s losing, she still takes the opportunity to stick that knife in George’s back a little bit more.
k k kiss o’ death. Why is this failure still employed? Why is it celebrated? Why? she will go down as the epitome of failure. Forget “Munsoned” from “Kingpin”, “kennedy’d” will spring a new level of humiliation, how you can have the world in the palm of your hand, completely fail at simply ‘maintaining’.
“What a loser”
Lloyd Christmas
If only the breaking of the supposed clause in the contract was enough to get the IP back.
Ehhhhh….Han Solo shooting Greedo in the ONLY version of Star Wars is most definitely NOT controversial in any way lol. Good lord