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.
Yes, but perhaps George really doesn’t care if they release the OOT along side his preferred cuts. He seemed to soften on his stance about that before Disney bought it anyway.
That being said - yeah I agree with you. I dont have much hope left either.
I just wish someone would ask them directly so we would know.
I really don’t think George cares either way.
Releasing the unaltereds wouldn’t be disrespectful to him so long as they’re packaged with his preferred version and aren’t presented in superior quality. We already know the 4k restoration was of the SE, which means it was off the negative just like the lowry transfer was. An OOT restoration need not be from the negative. If they were to use the separation masters (and Robert A. Harris has suggested they should), right there you are starting out with a lower quality source than the o-neg. Nothing for GL to complain about there. His version would still be superior quality, and they could still get the unaltereds looking close enough to the same level of quality. Hell, call it “bonus material” just like they did last time if he really still wants it known they’re his “rough drafts.”
Now some of you will say “but George doesn’t even want people having that option because they’ll never watch his version again.” To that I simply say, he sold the company to Disney for $4 Billion. If he really is that insecure about it, it should no longer be our problem.