I see this claim quite a lot on reddit and YouTube video comment sections too, but never with a source for it, or any relevant quotes on it from the high ups at Lucasfilm on the subject. Hate to be “that guy”, but do you have a source for that?
First of all, I refuse to believe they wouldn’t have done it by now if they could. Especially since, until after TLJ, Lucasfilm’s agenda under Disney was to appease the people who thought Lucas fucked up Star Wars with the special editions and the Prequels. No Prequel content, TFA being an OT fan-service palooza, cancelling The Clone Wars and replacing it with Rebels, the huge focus on the era between ANH and ESB in comic runs and novels, etc. Even now in the age of Prequel apologetics, they still do things to reference the original versions of the films (the original Krait Dragon call being used in The Mandalorian Season 2).
I highly doubt that with JJ Abrams, Jon Favreu and Dave Filoni clearly favoring the original versions, they would’ve released them by now if there wasn’t something from stopping them.
Second, we know JJ Abrams asked and was told it wasn’t possible.
So that’s a ‘no’ on the source for your claim that:
Unfortunately they are contractually not allowed to touch George’s films.
I mean, your belief is cool and all. Some of it may be likely. But it is still just your belief.
The search for an actual source continues!
I want the theatrical versions. Yes even for the prequels.
Yeah, it would be good to have all the theatrical releases available, the versions we saw on the big screen.