Fresh off the presses: Kathy Kennedy, on whether or not there are plans to alter George’s “final cut” of the films: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ie6Cr3m344k&feature=youtu.be
skip to around the 2:50 mark
The writing’s on the wall. “I wouldn’t touch those. They will always be his films”.
The only way an OOT release will happen, is if George Lucas gives his approval. I doubt Lucasfilm would start restoring the OOT on their own accord, and as Pablo Hidalgo hinted, George Lucas is not all that interested.
At this point Mike Verta’s restoration is our best hope. Once his pitch has happened, I suspect a copy will be shared with Lucasfilm, who will have to decide what to do with it.
Well, I dont know - the way the interviewer phrased it she could have taken that as if he was talking about future changes to the movies. So I’m not sure if that told us anything one way or the other. A wasted opportunity by the interviewer
Certainly, but she has great respect, and affection for her former boss. “They will always be his films”. Releasing the OOT without consulting George Lucas would be incredibly disrespectful.
Pablo Hidalgo has confirmed the 4K restoration is the SE, and was started under Lucas’ watch.
The Disney restoration people have confirmed the negative is still conformed to the SE.
At this point all we know is, that Lucasfilm and Disney are preserving all Star Wars related material, which would include the surviving OOT material. So, a release is technically possible at some point in the future, but I wouldn’t bet on any time soon.