I guess the reason all this is continually speculated about is because hope springs eternal, and we just can't believe this nightmare is real.
But the discussion is actually over. No commercial release of Star Wars will get what it actually needs; it's just not revered enough. Nobody in a commercial venue is going through every element of every frame like I am, armed with decades of research, passion, consulting with the original crew, willing to take all the time necessary, develop all the tools necessary to get it done right. There's nobody saying, "Here's a blank check, let's get this right once and for all no matter what, and put it to bed; let's give this landmark film what it deserves." That dictum would have to come from the top, and Star Wars has never had that. It's own creator distanced himself from it. And fans don't run studios, don't allocate resources. There is no reason to do this project; people are buying whatever they're given. That is so true, in fact, that the new films are already taking victory laps a year before the film is even out. Toys are made, sequels in pre-production, spin-offs funded. It used to be you had to wait to see if what you had was successful before you committed to anything else. But they don't have to wait anymore. They know it will be bought. People will buy it and like it. They'll buy whatever they're given, no matter how shitty. The entire landscape of commercial cinema is billion-dollar-making disposable, forgettable pieces of shit with tie-ins. That's why there has to be a new Avengers every year or whatever; they can't ride on the wave of reverence and success that a quality film generates. A couple of weekends, and it's off like a fart in the wind, now; time to make another one quick, before they forget entirely!
Star Wars was 3 films, not 10 plus spinoffs. It endured - so much so that they eventually made some prequels. They were shitty beyond description and STILL couldn't kill the nostalgia. Of course, it's Darth Vader and Luke and Leia that are in the new films; it's those characters and costumes and toys that sell. Nobody gives a shit about Jar Jar Binks, or Kloo Tu Fuck Tu or whoever from the prequels - we just sort of forget all that happened. Nobody's dressing up for Halloween as one of those lame-ass droid army, roger-roger things. Come to think of it - I don't follow this - does the 501st even HAVE a clone trooper division? They must. My mom might think they're stormtroopers, but she's thinking of the originals. Anyway my point is that the original films were powerful enough to plow through the mountain of shitfail that is the prequels and get us to a whole other set of projects. So all the indications are there that the films are deserving; they just don't get what they deserve. Never have. I don't believe they will, unless one of us does it, and makes them an offer they can't refuse. They'll probably refuse anyway. That's certainly my goal, and it's nice to think positive. But if I thought Star Wars was in better hands, I wouldn't be here. MAYBE the Reliance clips are not actually the new restoration for any number of reasons we can think up to make ourselves feel better, yeah. MAYBE. MAYBE it'll rain beer. You know, you never know. In the meantime, there is nothing to do but head down and show them how to do it right.