Just spitballing: would using the 2020 UHD and 4K77/4K83 to target a 1080p release (much like current DeSpec uses 1080p sources to target a 720p release) be a viable option here?
DeEd targeted 720p originally because it was based on HD cable broadcasts of the 04SE. DeEd actually predates the Blu-rays it’s now based on. When the 11SE Blu-rays finally came out, some of the other footage (particularly the GOUT) was pushing it to get upscaled to 720p, so 720p was a happy medium (it blends better). Only when the GOUT started to disappear as a source did Harmy start seriously considering 1080p. So a 1080p DeEd from 1080p Blu-rays is not only possible, it seemed to be the plan until just now.
Similarly, a 4K UHD could theoretically lead to a 4K DeEd. I’d expect 1080p would make a better happy medium at that point, because our projection print scans, while worlds better than the GOUT and available in 4K, still don’t even have 720p worth of non-grain fine detail and wouldn’t blend well with a 4K scan of negatives and IP’s at higher resolutions.
That’s all my opinion though. YMMV.
It leaves ESB sort of out in the cold until 4K80 gets finished, I guess. It’s kind of funny that the movie typically considered to be the best Star Wars movie is the one that’s taking the longest to get finished. Such is the way of things. The way of the Force…
No, there is another 😉
I don’t know if Poita’s collaborating with the 4K80 team at this point, but whatever preservation is based on his print is the one worth watching. I’m sure others mean well and may even finish first, but Poita spent the stupid amount of money, he’s got the stupid amount of equipment, and he’s got the stupid amount of expertise – and the print he’s got matches all that.
Harmy doesn’t need a complete film scan to make a DeEd. He just needs film scans for the bits he needs to despecialize. Poita’s 4K film print scan has already contributed to the current ESB release in that regard, IIRC. No need to wait.