Lucasfilm president Kathleen Kennedy made a shock look on opening night time of the BFI Movie on Movie Competition 2025, the place the ultra-rare, unique first print of George Lucas‘ “Star Wars” was being screened. The BFI’s surprising discovery of the print and the announcement that it might be screened publicly brought on a stir amongst “Star Wars” followers earlier this yr, as Lucas has at all times been vocal about his dislike of the print and famously went on to tinker with the film.

On this unique print, the 1977’s film subtitle “Episode IV: A New Hope” will not be included within the opening crawl and the well-known scene set within the Mos Eisley cantina scene options Han Solo taking pictures the bounty hunter Greedo. Lucas modified the scene in a future edit in order that Greedo shot first, absolving Han of wrongdoing. The selection led to one of many “Star Wars” fandom’s most legendary phrases: “Han shot first.”

Lucas has at all times defended his proper to tinker with the unique lower of “Star Wars,” notably as soon as telling the AP concerning the first print: “I’m sorry you noticed half a accomplished movie and fell in love with it, however I would like it to be the best way I would like it to be.” In consequence, some “Star Wars” followers have been uneasy concerning the unique print’s discovery.

Kennedy advised the gang on the BFI Movie on Movie Competition that she was in attendance to be able to “legitimize” the unique print being proven amid concern from “Star Wars” followers that it might not be what Lucas wished (by way of The Unbiased). BFI chief government Ben Roberts stated it was a “miracle” the print was in adequate situation to display publicly.

“It’s unbelievable folklore,” Kennedy stated. “Even once I got here into the corporate, there was countless dialog about the place the whole lot was, and what was the truth is the primary print? And it’s fairly exceptional, what you’re going to see is the truth is the primary print, and I’m not even certain there’s one other one fairly prefer it. It’s that uncommon. There’s a lot tinkering that’s gone on over time, and issues that George [Lucas] determined, ‘I’m gonna change this, I’m gonna attempt that.’ After which, all people type of misplaced observe of what it was.”

Kenny went on to say that anybody who comes into the Lucasfilm fold to create a brand new “Star Wars” mission is proven Lucas’ 1977 film as a result of it’s “the gold customary” of storytelling. She added: “I’d say that is the movie everybody begins with once we begin speaking about story, George’s intent and what it’s we’re attempting to construct off of.”

The “Star Wars” franchise is presently coming off the acclaimed second season of “Andor” on Disney+, and Kennedy is in London as a brand new film, Shawn Levy’s “Starfighter” with Ryan Gosling, gears up for manufacturing.

“I actually assume that now we’re able the place it’s broadened the opportunity of tales and filmmakers we will herald to inform tales that imply one thing to them – it doesn’t essentially have to connect with each little factor thats been accomplished in ‘Star Wars’; it may well truly be a standalone story that then builds into many many different tales,” Kennedy defined about the way forward for the franchise.