4️⃣ 1997 Special Edition OT Preservation Projects (+ discussion threads)…
Despite George Lucas saying this about the 1997 Special Editions being…
“There will only be one. And it won’t be what I would call the ‘rough cut’, it’ll be the ‘final cut’”
…at the time; they were never actually released on a digital (VCD apart) or high quality format for the public to buy & own.
Projects include VCD, VHS, laserdisc, bootleg DVD, HDTV, and 4K film projects - for the 1997 Special Editions of the Original Trilogy…
1997 ReSpecialized / 1997 SE Reconstruction Projects…
Harmy’s STAR WARS ReSpecialized Edition '97R (Released) - HD Reconstruction of Star Wars (A New Hope)
^ there are no ReSpecialized Editions by Harmy for Empire Strikes Back or Return Of The Jedi.
adywan’s THE STAR WARS SAGA - 1080P AVCHD DVD-9 for PS3 & Blu-Ray players - Episodes 1, 4 & 5 available - '97 HD ESB
^ ADYWAN’S 1997 SE ESB RECONSTRUCTION IN HD. (Available) - an info thread by That guy with no name
ImBateman’s Empire Strikes Back 1997 Special Edition HD (a more accurate) Reconstruction (Released) - HD Reconstruction
ImBateman’s Return of the Jedi 1997 Special Edition HD Reconstruction (Released) - HD Reconstruction
‘Regular’ 1997 Special Edition Preservation Projects…
dark_jedi / Team Blu’s Star Wars OT & 1997 Special Edition - Various Projects Info (Released) (multiple projects featured)
^ look for the ‘Star Wars 1997 Special Edition Blu-ray Set (BD25)’ entry above. Only ANH SE was completed by Team Blu (1280x720).
^ SonnyGFunk’s finished renders of Team Blu’s incomplete 1997 Special Edition set - for both ESB & ROTJ (Released) (2025)
pj’s ANH 1997 Inspired Regrade with SE Soundmix (Version 2 Released)
newguy’s Star Wars ANH Bluray Semi-Despecialized & CC (JASWFP) (Released)
Niphoet’s 1997 SE - Five Star Collection - any interest in a Preservation? (Released)
djdd’s I have Star Wars SEs on Digi Betacam tape, you want my dvd tranfers? - a ‘Flunk’ thread
satanika’s 1997 Special Edition VCDs-on-DVD COMPLETISTS/COLLECTORS ONLY (Released) - VCD project
Ell the Ewok’s Idea: Has anyone done anything with the VCDs? (with project release info) - VCD project + info
Segaflip’s The Official Segaflip Release Thread - including a VCD project release
JawsTDS’ TDS TRILOGY: Specialized Regraded Edition (Released) (1997, 2004 & 2011 SEs combination)
borisanddoris’ Star Wars 1997 DTS CD-ROMs (Released)
murdav’s Star Wars: A New Hope (1997SE) - Download the Fan-Made 3D Conversion in 2160p HFR (Released) - 3D
Director’s Original Trilogy: Special Edition 1997 Restoration | v1.0 Available now - a 480p quality project; unknown sources
STENDEC’s Hybrid SE (part-finished project?) : (a part-finished project?)
poita’s 1997 Star Wars Special Edition 35mm Project (a WIP) : a Work In Progress
DrDre’s Star Wars Trilogy SE bluray color regrade (a WIP) : a Work In Progress
emanswfan’s Star Wars OT SE 1080p 70mm Filmized Concept (a WIP) : a Work In Progress
Max_Rebo’s ‘97 SE superset’ preservation (* unfinished project *) : 2008 unfinished project
oojason’s 📍 A few available Original Trilogy Preservations - from a long time ago . . . . 📍 | 15+ 1997 SE projects are available.
35mm Projects…
The Aluminum Falcon’s Star Wars: A New Hope (1997 Special Edition) - 35mm Calibrated Scan [Donations Needed!]
^ see this post for information on The Aluminum Falcon’s Empire Strikes Back 1997 Special Edition scanned project.
poita’s 1997 Star Wars Special Edition 35mm Project (a WIP) : a Work In Progress
deathstar1138’s Star Wars SE 4K - 1997 (Released) (Project 4K97 - by TN1 at TheStarWarsTrilogy•com)
^ Info for Project 4K97 - the 1997 Special Editions (WIPs), can be found on the TSWT forums - http://forums.thestarwarstrilogy.com
Some invite information for joining the TSWT forums - the ‘TheStarWarsTrilogy.com - and invite codes to it’ thread
1997 Special Edition Laserdisc Preservation Projects ('97 releases onwards)…
dark_jedi’s 97’ SE laserdisc transfer set including extras… (Released)
LeeThorogood’s PAL LaserDisc Preservation Project - '97 SE Finished, '95 THX Finished
Jetrell Fo’s Star Wars Special Edition Trilogy Japan Laserdiscs (2000 set) (Released)
Master Skywalker’s .:. “MS Star Wars: Special Edition 0.77” PAL Project Release thread .:. (Released)
ZigZig’s Preservation of SE97 Laserdiscs (a WIP) : a 2020 Work In Progress
Jetrell Fo’s The 1997 OT Special Edition Trilogy Preservation Standards Thread (* unfinished *) : 2012 unfinished project
cain spaans’ Special Edition 1997 Laserdisc Preservation (* unfinished project *) : 2013 unfinished project
^ 1997 Special Edition laserdisc projects can also be found in the ‘Original Trilogy Preservations - Videotape, CED, & Laserdisc’ section.
Discussion Threads: 1997 Special Edition OT Preservations…
Including answers to the oft-asked 'Where are the 1997 SE DV / Reivax / Flunk / adywan ‘97 ESB in HD / 1997 OT SE in HD projects?’…
Idea: Preserving the 1997 Special Editions of the Star Wars Original Trilogy on DVD-R - 2004 thread, by Millhouse
The 1997 Star Wars Special Edition Trilogy Preservation Standards Thread - 2012 thread, by Jetrell Fo
1997 SE DV Broadcast Info & Discussion - 2009 thread, by dark_jedi (multiple projects; including the Reivax DTV version)
Is there still a way to obtain Flunk 1997 special editions? - 2021 thread, by 97Scanner
Help: looking for… 1997 SE - both the Flunk and Reivax versions - 2010 thread, by dark_jedi
Help: Looking for… Reivax DTV Capture of the 1997 Special Edition - 2021 thread, by CloakedDragon97
Help: Looking for… Adywan’s 1997 SE Reconstruction for Empire Strikes Back in HD - 2021 thread, by That guy with no name
Help: looking for… Could you point me to adywan’s 1997 SE of ESB in HD project? - 2009 thread, by dickalan (+ 1997 SEs)
Info: Star Wars: A New Hope (1997 SE) - GKAR Vs SET [ruLes] - split screen comparison - 2013 info thread, by spoRv
Info for Project 4K97 - the 1997 Special Editions (WIPs), can be found on the TSWT forums - http://forums.thestarwarstrilogy.com
^ Some invite information for joining the TSWT forums - the ‘TheStarWarsTrilogy.com - and invite codes to it’ thread
Info Wanted: Are the 1997 Special Edition releases preserved? - 2011 thread, by ROFLRICK
What Are The Best 1997 Special Edition Preservations? - 2014 thread, by Darth Lucas
Info Wanted: The 1997 Special Edition preservations - any in HD? - 2016 thread, by Jp4195
1997 and 2004 OT preservations in HD? - 2021 thread, by Fang Zei
Info Wanted: Highest quality version or reconstruction of 1997 SE of ROTJ? - 2017 thread, by Aiwendil
Info Wanted: Link to Star wars 1997 special editions? - 2016 thread, by mikeb960
Help: looking for… 1997 SE TB Digital Broadcasts - 2007 thread, by wainsco
Help: looking for… 1997 Special Edition Preservations? - 2012 thread, by djchaseb
Help: looking for… 1997 special editions? - 2013 thread, by joed424
Help: looking for… Where to find Star Wars SE 1997 Trilogy preservations…? - 2016 thread, by leMORSEaPLUMES
Help: looking for… Star Wars trilogy 1997 Special Editions - 2018 thread, by metalboyz
Help: looking for 97 special editions - 2023 thread, by 2004 star wars fan
Help: looking for… Star Wars 1997 Special Edition - French Edition - 2024 thread, by Cedone95 (either VHS or laserdisc)
Info Wanted: has anyone done a VCD to DVD ‘Star Wars Saga’ preservation? - VCD info; 2006 thread, by StarWarsFan1976
Idea: Star Wars VCD - VCD info; 2004 thread, by bad_karma24
The Original Trilogy on VCD (Video Compact Disc) - albeit the 1997 Special Edition - 2021 thread, by oojason
^ more discussion threads re the 1997 Special Editions can be found in the Theatrical Cuts vs. Subsequent Releases section; such as the informative Star Wars Trilogy 1997 Special Edition DVDs? thread.
The ‘1997 SE : The changes to the OT films & general 1997 Special Edition discussion thread’ also contains more information.
Saga Preservation Projects (some are Original Trilogy & Prequels based - before the Sequels), can be found in the post below…