In 1997, as part of the restoration, the newly assembled negative was scanned and digitally restored in 2k. does this mean that there is currently a 2k file of the original film(s) sitting in lucasfilm archive?
Yeah, and it is probably still sitting there - a pity it was never used for a 25th anniversary release for the 1997 SE (such a pity that the 1997 Special Edition has never had a digital home format release - other than on the awful VCD format) - despite them having ‘a perfect print’ all ready to go.
^ doubleofive is probably the guy for more info on that (amongst other far more knowledgeable souls than me on here).
There is a fair bit of information on the 1997 Special Editions, here:-
• 1997 SE : The changes to the OT films & general 1997 Special Edition discussion thread
• An Index & Help Thread for Theatrical Cuts vs. Subsequent Releases - and scroll down to the ‘1997 SE’ category of ‘The various Releases / Editions / Sets / Versions (and the changes to them)…’ - there are a few threads listed which may be of interest.
• 1997 Special Edition OT Preservation Projects (+ discussion threads) - in An Index & Help Thread for Star Wars Preservations
^ and probably a few more 1997 Special Edition info/discussion threads in Theatrical Cuts vs. Subsequent Releases.