Can someone articulate how in the name of heck George Lucas can sell Lucasfilm, and then tell Disney to not release the originals, don’t they own the films and all archival material belonging to the Lucas archives?
Paid 4 billion its not his movie anymore.
Its just way too insane to contemplate.
I think it is a “they respect George’s wishes” type of thing more than any legal contract. And a couple of years after George passes they’ll likely release all the different cuts. I hope so anyway. That’s just my best guess to it all.
You’re right, it does all seem insane.
From the The 'Naysayer Guide’ by people who DON’T want an unaltered theatrical release of the Original Trilogy (Cat No. 5):
^ the tweets are from 2017, with Disney in charge of Lucasfilm. There is also more in that awesome Naysayer Guide thread.
It sucks there is no such respect for Kershner and Marquand, the other talented craftspeople who worked on the originals, and also for the audience who made Star Wars what it was.