The very first original copy of Star Wars, “miraculously” found and projected to the fans

She was projected this week in London this week and the president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedy, came to tell how she ended up putting her hand back on this rare pearl.

Rarely than a Jedi after the fall of the Empire …

The very first original copy of Star Warssigned George Lucaswas found and “miraculously”, she was able to be thrown this week in London this week, during the opening evening of the BFI Film on Film Festival.

The president of Lucasfilm, Kathleen Kennedyhad the trip to tell this ultra-rare discovery which caused a small earthquake among fans of the saga. As much as Lucas He himself has never hidden his aversion to this initial version of the film, which he has since largely changed.

This first montage in 1977 does not in particular contain the now emblematic subtitle “Episode IV: A New Hope” in the famous introductory crawl. And in the famous scene of the Cantina of Mos Eisley, it is Han solo who shoots the bonus hunter Greedo – A detail that Lucas will change later to make Greedo shoot first, trying to moralize the character. This modification has nourished one of the most ferocious debates within the community: “Han Shot First.”

George Lucas has always defended his right to modify his work, one day declaring to the Associated Press about this first version: “I’m sorry you fell in love with a half -finished film, but I want it to be as I wish.” This positioning has long frustrated the purists, making this projection even more sensitive.

Faced with the questions of certain fans on the legitimacy of showing a film that Lucas himself disavowed, Kathleen Kennedy explained to the public of the BFI that she wanted to be present for “legitimize“The broadcast of this historic version (words reported by The Independent). The director of the BFI, Ben Robertsfor his part described as “miracle“The state of conservation of this copy, good enough to allow a public projection.

“This is an incredible story around this copy”, entrusted Kennedy. “Even when I arrived at Lucasfilm, there were endless discussions on the location of the archives and on what was really the first draw. What you will see this evening is indeed the very first. And I am not even sure that there is another one. ended up losing sight of what the original version really was. “