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Lucasfilm at 50

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‘2021 marks the 50th anniversary of Lucasfilm. The celebration will kick off with commemorative, fan-favorite 50th anniversary Star Wars products. The launch starts in January and will continue throughout the year with special edition product releases’.
 

“Consumer products have always been an integral part of the Star Wars fan experience, and they remain a constant force in pop-culture today,” says Paul Southern, Lucasfilm senior vice president, Licensing and Franchise. “To commemorate Lucasfilm’s 50 years of storytelling, we look forward to honoring this consumer products legacy and bringing to life brand-new products, games, and publishing offerings that celebrate our future with Lucasfilm’s exciting feature films and Disney+ series ahead.”’

^ from the ‘StarWars•com 50th anniversary announcement’ - the first article on Lucasfilm’s 50th, on StarWars•com, in December 2020.
 

It is both telling and unfortunate in the first announcement about Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary… that the opening statement is about selling the fans more merchandise. As evidenced below, and also since - in the majority of articles online, it appears the aim of Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary is not to celebrate the rich history and achievements of this great pioneering company… but to instead sell yet more merch to the fans.
 
 

Just some of the countless offerings from sites using Lucasfilm’s ‘50th anniversary’ as opportunity to sell more merchandise…

 
Fan Favorites from Classic Star Wars stories come to Hasbro’s Black Series - at StarWars•com

^ RebelScum.com info on the wrong character name, story and figure details for the release of the Black Series’ Imperial Guard figure

Lucasfilm and Hasbro announce new publishing-inspired Star Wars figures - at Lucasfilm•com

Hasbro Pulse reveals Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary products and more - at StarWars•com

Lego R2D2 available to buy as part of Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary (for $200) - at Lego•com & Lego’s Twitter

The Clone Wars figures - available as part of Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary - at StarWars•com

LEGO Minifigure Madness, Hasbro Celebrates 50 Years of Lucasfilm, and More! at the official Star Wars youtube channel

Del Rey celebrates Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary by repackaging ‘Legends’ novels - at DelReyStarWars twitter.

Classic Star Wars books are getting re-released for Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary article at Polygon•com

Best Star Wars Trading Card Sets to Celebrate Lucasfilm’s 50th Anniversary article at DenOfGeek•com

Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary: Clone Ward figure headed to Target article at ToyBook•com

Star Wars Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Free Promo Box from Hasbro video at Bossk’s Bounty youtube channel

D23 Announces Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary 6-Pin Box Set Coming May 24th article at LaughingPlace•com

The Phantom Menace: Black Series Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Action Figure: Mace Windu - at Forbidden Planet

The Clone Wars: Black Series Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Action Figure: Obi-Wan Kenobi - at Forbidden Planet

Hasbro reveals Lucasfilm 50th anniversary Star Wars: Droids figures - at Future Of The Force

Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Commemorative Action Figures (index list) - at Jedi Temple Archives

Doctor Aphra #12 - Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Variant (assorted Marvel comics) - at Boba Fett Fan Club

Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary commemorative film posters - at the official D23 club

Lucasfilm 50th anniversary ‘challenge coin’ - at Worth Point

Lucasfilm 50th Vintage Collection Shipper At Walmart - at Galactic Figures

Lucasfilm Ltd. 50th Anniversary Logo T-Shirt (clothing) - at Shop Disney

Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Star Wars Bomber Jacket - at Her Universe

“Bring Home The Bounty” Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary merchandise announcement - at StarWars•com

“Star Wars” has announced a big “Bring Home the Bounty” marketing campaign’ - 50th Anniversary - at SVG (Dec 14th)

2021 Topps Star Wars: Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary - The Force Awakens - Card #7 - at Topps•com

Three Black Series Figures Based on Gendy Tartakovsky’s Clone Wars for Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary - at Jedi News

Star Wars Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Episode 1 Battle Droid - at In Demand Toys

Pre-Order TBS Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Princess Leia Organa (Yavin-4) - Jedi Temple Archives

Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary and Upcoming Legends Characters - EA’s Galaxy Of Heroes game site

Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Black Series Imperial Death Trooper 6-Inch-Scale - at Hasbro

Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Star Wars Gold & Black Death Star Mock Neck Dress - at Hot Topic

Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Star Wars Yoda Hoodie - at Hot Topic

#SWResistance-themed “Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary” variant for #BountyHunters 20 releases Jan 12th (2022) - at SW Books

Obi-Wan Kenobi - The Clone Wars Black Series Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Action Figure 2021 - at Pop Toys

 

^ For ‘Week 9’ (7th, December 2021) of the Bring Home The Bounty - "a global consumer products, games, and publishing campaign" - with ‘Lucasfilm’s 50th Anniversary’ being front and centre as the main promoted theme for that week… there was nothing at all about Lucasfilm’s 50th Anniversary:-

Book Of Boba Fett - Black Series figures revealed (Week 9) - at StarWars•com

 

Several online searches over the year also seemingly equates Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary with overwhelmingly being about selling merch - rather than highlighting or celebrating the rich history & ground-breaking achievements of the company itself.

Even on the actual day of the 50th Anniversary, the 10th December, there was not a single mention of the day / anniversary on the Lucasfilm website or any of their social media pages - nor on the Star Wars website, nor any of their social media pages.

 
 

A few decent articles from Lucasfilm about its actual 50th anniversary - some chronicles and accomplishments of the company (and not seemingly an attempt to sell us fans more tat)

• Lucasfilm website portal for ‘Lucasfilm at 50’ - www.lucasfilm.com/tag/50th-anniversary

• D23’s ‘Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary Crossword’ - https://d23.com/app/uploads/2021/05/Lucasfilm-50th-Crossword-v3.1-2.pdf

Lucasfilm 2021 Holiday card celebrates 50th anniversary - at Fantha Tracks (on 17th December)

‘Lucasfilm Originals: Scumm’ (article on an early computer game) - www.lucasfilm.com/news/lucasfilm-originals-scumm

‘Lucasfilm Originals: The EditDroid’ (article on filmmaking tool) - www.lucasfilm.com/news/lucasfilm-originals-the-editdroid

'Lucasfilm Originals: The Dykstraflex (article on filmmaking tool) - www.lucasfilm.com/news/lucasfilm-originals-the-dykstraflex

Some other useful info links - Skywalker Sound : ILM : ILMxLab : Lucasfilm Wiki on Fandom : Lucasfilm on Wikipedia

 

 

The welcome announcement the following longstanding and popular ‘non-canon’ Star Wars releases are to finally see the light of day again. Coming to Disney+, under the ‘Vintage Collection’ banner, in April 2021:-

“Caravan of Courage”
“Ewoks: The Battle for Endor”
“Star Wars: Clone Wars – Volume I”
“Star Wars: Clone Wars – Volume II”
“Star Wars: Ewoks” (Seasons 1-2)
“The Story of the Faithful Wookiee,” (better known as the animated section of the 1978 made-for-TV-film, “The Star Wars Holiday Special” – featuring the first appearance of bounty hunter Boba Fett.’)

https://attractionsmagazine.com/exciting-star-wars-additions-coming-disney-april
 

^ Hopefully we’ll see all of these releases presented in best possible quality - and NOT just lazy upscales to ‘HD’ quality. 👍

Star Wars: Droids, was later added to the Vintage Collection on Disney+.

Though still no release for the 39 finished episodes of Star Wars Detours.

Nor a release of The 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special either.

^ Edit: unfortunately, it seems the majority of the ‘Vintage Collection’ on Disney+ is indeed HD upscales.

 
 

The many, many various new Star Wars series and theatrical projects announced back in December 2020:-

Future Lucasfilm Projects Revealed - at StarWars•com

 
 

The ‘Indiana Jones 4-film Collection on 4K UHD’ set is also being released this year…

https://www.lucasfilm.com/news/all-four-indiana-jones-movie-adventures-on-4k-ultra-hd-for-the-first-time

https://thedigitalbits.com/columns/my-two-cents/031521-1400

^ Hopefully the ‘Young Indiana Jones Chronicles’ will also see a quality release on a modern digital format someday too.

 

 

26th May Edit: It was poor form to see that there was nothing at all on the official Star Wars website, twitter, facebook, Lucasfilm website, or Lucasfilm facebook about the 25th May - especially given this year is Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary.

C’mon Lucasfilm - you are so much better, and so much more, than selling merch… celebrate that rich history with all us fans.
 

Still, many on here, on social media, and on other Star Wars fan sites & blogs etc - seemed to celebrate it just fine! 👍
 

10th December Edit: Even on the actual day of the 50th Anniversary, there was not a single mention of the day / anniversary on the Lucasfilm website or any of their social media pages - nor on the Star Wars website, nor any of their social media pages.

 
 


 

A couple of intriguing articles on Lucasfilm’s 50th (especially the article from SlashFilm)

 
Lucasfilm turns 50 in 2021, celebrating with lots of new merch - at FanSided

Lucasfilm 50th Anniversary Celebration Will Include Shiny New Stuff to Spend Your Galactic Credits On - at SlashFilm:-
 

‘Look: I get it. Movies are a business, and they exist to make money. That’s no secret. But if the first words out of your mouth regarding a major studio’s anniversary are, “Consumer products have always been an integral part of our fan experience!”, you’re doing something wrong. Or maybe not. Perhaps the fine folks at Lucasfilm deserve credit for not bullshitting us. For being upfront about what they want: money, money, money.’

 

So in the spirit of Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary, celebrating their long history in film and tv, and in fitting with their accomplishments over the years, let’s hope they also do the right thing - re the glaring omission from their catalogue of work…

…and release the unaltered theatrical version of the Original Trilogy. The three classic iconic films that underpin all of the Galaxy Far Far Away, which have been officially unavailable (in a quality release it so merits) for over 25 years now, and counting.

A fan-favourite release that fans the world over would only be too happy to celebrate Lucasfilm for in its 50th anniversary.

And also actually pay money for too…

 
 

Last Updated: 21st December, 2021.

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

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How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

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Anniversary’s have little meaning if you cannot enjoy the films the company was founded for.

I assume We’ll hit the 40th of Return of the Jedi in 2023 and no original version will be released.

I’m not holding my breath on Original versions of THX 1138 or American Graffiti either.

Mr Lucas is my all time favorite director, its a shame i cannot enjoy the films as they were.

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I don’t think they will ever release the unaltered original theatrical versions on disc, but since they’re putting the Ewok movies up on Disney+, I expect that’s where they’ll eventually appear. Just a guess really though.

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JadedSkywalker said:

Anniversary’s have little meaning if you cannot enjoy the films the company was founded for.

I assume We’ll hit the 40th of Return of the Jedi in 2023 and no original version will be released.

I’m not holding my breath on Original versions of THX 1138 or American Graffiti either.

Mr Lucas is my all time favorite director, its a shame i cannot enjoy the films as they were.

It’s a little funny that Lucas showed up to the 40th anniversary of Star Wars when he’d been spending the last 20 years talking about how his Star Wars never existed until 1997. Go make your own 20th anniversary celebration.

What changes were made to American Graffiti? I was only aware of the changes to THX and Star Wars (and a few hard to notice changes to Indiana Jones).

Reading R + L ≠ J theories

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There is some info on the changes George Lucas has made to his ‘non Star Wars’ films in this 2010 thread…

Is there a single Lucasfilm release on blu that has not been tampered with ?

… though it could probably do with an update - as he may have made even more changes since 😉

 

THX 1138 also has its 50th anniversary this year. Unfortunately the original theatrical cut is not officially available…
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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I should have been more plain. I want the Mono Mix for American Graffiti and the 1973 cut, as well as the 1978 cut in stereo with the original opening.

And the 1971 Cut of THX 1138 and 1978 Cut.

What i don’t want and is already available is the 1998 edit of Graffiti or the 2004 edit of THX.

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The only one i’ve seen that wasn’t really in my wheelhouse but i really liked was Tucker the man and his dream.

But then i’ve liked most of Lucasfilm, including twice upon a time. Willow. Red Tails, Strange Magic, even Howard the Duck.

Radioland Murders to be honest i haven’t seen. I guess i should try it.

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Howard the Duck - 80s Movie Getting 4K Release’:-

https://screenrant.com/howard-duck-movie-4k-release-80s-details
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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Universal doing the 4K of Howard before American Graffiti makes little sense, but i’m glad its coming out for the fans of that film.

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 (Edited)

Maybe we’ll see some articles celebrating the rich history of Lucasfilm on the actual anniversary date - 10th December, 1971…

…as so far it has been pretty underwhelming - unless you like collecting the Lucasfilm ‘50th anniversary’ labelled merchandise.
 

George as a 50th Anniversary ‘Black Series’ figure (28th Sept) - www.starwars.com/news/george-lucas-star-wars-the-black-series

 


 

‘“Bring Home The Bounty” with new galaxy-spanning Star Wars products’:-

www.starwars.com/news/bring-home-the-bounty-announce
 

'Disney and Lucasfilm today launched “Bring Home the Bounty,” a global consumer products, games, and publishing campaign that will debut new Star Wars toys, collectibles, books, apparel, and more each week through the end of the year.

Every Tuesday from now through December 28, you can expect reveals of new items inspired by everything from The Book of Boba Fett, premiering exclusively on Disney+ December 29, and The Mandalorian to classics like the Skywalker saga films, animated series including Star Wars: The Bad Batch and Star Wars: Visions, and much more.

“With the Lucasfilm 50th anniversary coming to a close this year, we wanted to find a way to celebrate all of our beloved characters and stories from the classic to the new and everything in-between” said Paul Southern, Senior Vice President, Franchise & Licensing, Lucasfilm. “There will be something to excite every Star Wars fan this year with such a wide assortment of items to enjoy and engage with, whether fans are adding to their own collections or scouring for the perfect gift.”’
 

^ a list of merchandise (including Lucasfilm 50th anniversary content) can be found in the linked article above.
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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I was kinda hoping Lawrence Kasdan’s 6-Part Docuseries on George Lucas and ILM would be a part of the 50th anniversary for Lucasfilm. But it looks far too early for the series to be released this year, and it does not make much sense for a 50th anniversary series to be released in the 51st year!

We’ll have to just make do with even more “limited edition” merchandise to mark Lucasfilm’s 50th anniversary. Scalpers rejoice!

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Even on the actual day of the 50th Anniversary, the 10th December, there was not a single mention of the day / anniversary on the Lucasfilm website or any of their social media pages - nor on the Star Wars website, nor any of their social media pages.

Ugh, that is somewhat disappointing - I was hoping for a short documentary, a video, or a couple of new interviews, maybe even an insightful article… yet nothing doing, at all.
 

Though both a varied and incredible amount of merchandise released throughout the year for those who like that sort of thing. 👍
 

A little patience goes a long way on this old-school Rebel base. If you are having issues finding what you are looking for, these will be of some help…

Welcome to the OriginalTrilogy.com | Introduce yourself in here | Useful info within : About : Help : Site Rules : Fan Project Rules : Announcements
How do I do this?’ on the OriginalTrilogy.com; some info & answers + FAQs - includes info on how to search for projects and threads on the OT•com

A Project Index for Star Wars Preservations (Harmy’s Despecialized & 4K77/80/83 etc) : A Project Index for Star Wars Fan Edits (adywan & Hal 9000 etc)

… and take your time to look around this site before posting - to get a feel for this place. Don’t just lazily make yet another thread asking for projects.

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Yeah I’ve been collecting some of the 50th anniversary comic variant covers. For the most part those are quite nice. Very strange there’s nothing on social media about it today though.

“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”

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they prepare for the 45 star wars anniversary next year… 😉

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benduwan said:

they prepare for the 45 star wars anniversary next year… 😉

I feel old now, and I’m only 14.

I’m not really that much of a movie purist. I really should’ve thought my name out a bit more.

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Lucasfilm 50th anniversary art by Amy Beth Christensen, featuring characters from some upcoming projects!

“Remember, the Force will be with you. Always.”

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I wish Lucasfilm would do bigger things for various anniversary dates, Star Wars Day, and even the recent Disney+ Day, but they could be holding a lot of things back for Celebration in a few months.

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We got Howard the Duck in 4K, but not Star Wars except for Maclunky, Not American Graffiti, not THX 1138, or Willow.

Well i guess Indiana Jones in 4K counts for something. Just wish we could get catalog titles of films like every other studio.