Lightspeed Return: Star Wars Rerelease Hits Theaters Earlier Than Expected
The Force is arriving early: Lucasfilm has bumped up the theatrical rerelease of Star Wars: A New Hope, bringing the 1977 classic back to theaters ahead of its planned 2026 50th-anniversary celebration.
Good news for anyone who wants to see where this whole galaxy far, far away began on a giant screen again: the first Star Wars is landing in theaters earlier than expected, and Lucasfilm says it is the 1977 original. Yes, the one without the 1997 tweaks.
The new date
Lucasfilm and Disney just pulled the rerelease of Star Wars: A New Hope up to February 19, 2027. Until now, the plan on the calendar was April 30, 2027. Nothing else is currently parked on Feb 19, and the kid-targeted Cocomelon: The Movie shows up a week later, so the coast is pretty clear.
Which version are we getting?
The official Star Wars site specifies the "1977 original" will be back on screens, not the 1997 Special Edition. That distinction matters to a lot of fans who have very strong feelings about altered effects, added scenes, and one very famous cantina confrontation.
Quick refresher
Written and directed by George Lucas and widely considered one of the most influential films ever made, the movie lit the fuse for the entire franchise. If you somehow missed the synopsis, here is how Lucasfilm still describes it:
"The Imperial Forces - under orders from cruel Darth Vader - hold Princess Leia hostage, in their efforts to quell the rebellion against the Galactic Empire. Luke Skywalker and Han Solo, captain of the Millennium Falcon, work together with the companionable droid duo R2-D2 and C-3PO to rescue the beautiful princess, help the Rebel Alliance, and restore freedom and justice to the Galaxy."
Cast roll call
- Mark Hamill - Luke Skywalker
- Harrison Ford - Han Solo
- Carrie Fisher - Princess Leia Organa
- Peter Cushing - Grand Moff Tarkin
- Alec Guinness - Obi-Wan 'Ben' Kenobi
- Anthony Daniels - C-3PO
- Kenny Baker - R2-D2
- Peter Mayhew - Chewbacca
- David Prowse and James Earl Jones - Darth Vader
More Star Wars in 2027
A New Hope is not flying solo that year. Shawn Levy has a new movie called Star Wars: Starfighter dated for May 28, 2027. The cast is stacked: Ryan Gosling, Flynn Gray, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Matt Smith, Amy Adams, and more.
About that timeline
Earlier this year, Lucasfilm talked up a theatrical return tied to the 50th anniversary window and initially said 2026. The actual date they put on it was April 30, 2027, which lined up closer to the 1977 milestone. Now they have shifted it forward to February 19, 2027. So, yes, the messaging was messy, but the bottom line is simple: the original cut hits theaters a bit earlier than we thought.