With the amount of money they’re spending? They’re for sure going to release it beyond the theaters. Unless that was part of George’s agreement that they only show it in Theaters and not release it physically but I don’t even know how George is ok with this since last I heard he was opposed to releasing the “original” version.
Why should he have any say at all, if Disney paid 4 billion dollars?
It would be completely insane for the Original theatrical trilogy to be restored and then not released because of one person. None of this would even be a thing if they had just released the original restored alongside the special edition decades ago. Lucas is the one behind this entire set of circumstances. And he created the restore the original trilogy movement with his stance on the originals. This site and others like it would likely not exist if not for his incredible arrogance. I say that as a huge devotee of Lucas and Lucasfilm, who is fan of everything he did since his student and Zoetrope days. All the way up to the Star Wars Prequels.
His lack of caring about the original director’s cuts of THX 1138 and American Graffiti, I find to be quite ridiculous. As in re-editing the young Indiana Jones Chronicles on VHS and DVD. He just can’t leave well enough alone.
Sensible people would allow people to see the television shows and films as they original were as catalog releases. And I’m not saying he can’t continue to edit his work as long as he preserves the original copies in the same quality.
There is room to argue in favor of his ability to make changes, for the Special Edition of Star Wars. His film. But I don’t think he should have been allowed to change The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi. For one Richard Marquand was dead, and Lucas taking over these films as if he was the director is ridiculous. He promised Kersh final cut in 1980. He went back on his word. At least he kept his word to Steven and never recut Raiders.
Disney Lucasfilm should give fans the opportunity to own Theatrical prequels and the 1997 Special Editions too. Though one last OOT set and never needing to buy them again would be great.
Give us THX 1138 and American Graffiti both theatrical cuts, 1971 and 1973, and 1977 and 1978. and the Young Indiana Jones Chronicles on Blu-Ray with all the documentaries. Lucas can keep the cgi versions of Graffiti and THX I don’t want them.