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(c) Lucasfilm
During the San-Diego Comic-Con, I was able to snag an interview with Steve Sansweet, the head of Fan Relations at Lucasfilm.
You can read my article about the interview here.
But we got to talking about the Blu-ray edition of Star Wars and this is what was said:
Q: Is there any talk whatsoever, and I'm not even going to ask for a date because I know that's ridiculous, but is there any talk about the Star Wars movies on a high definition format?
A: Yeah. I mean obviously we've been looking at that for a couple of years and I think one of the questions is when is the market penetration there and these days, will there be a market penetration before everything goes streaming? But we've been looking at an ultimate box set of the Star Wars movies, all six of the movies. And what special features would be. And clearly these days, if you did an ultimate box set and didn't do it in HD, Blu-ray, it just wouldn't make any sense. So now it's a matter of thinking okay, we've been thinking about this for a while, we know what kind of assets we want to use, we've done some work in cleaning up things, it's really a matter of making that decision of when's the best time to release it.
Do you wait and have an event because you're working off of the fact that there's going to be a new live action TV series?
All those things are very much in motion. I can say with pretty good confidence that at some point in the next several years there will be a complete set of Star Wars movies and lots of extras and deleted footage and anything anyone could want. Although I say that with some trepidation now because our fans want everything, "Why the Holiday Special wasn't on there, you ruined my life!"
But in the next few years there will be an ultimate box set and certainly a Blu-ray set.
Q: That leads into my next question. Over the years, there have been a lot of making of documentaries. In my day job, actually, I'm a documentary filmmaker and the Star Wars behind the scenes documentaries are what prompted a lot of that, like From Star Wars to Jedi and The Making of Star Wars and I've got all my old VHS copies sitting around. Are we going to see any digital releases of those either on DVD or Blu-ray? Is that even in the cards?
A: I hope so. Because I agree with you. Those have not been seen by the current generation of Star Wars fans and I think they hold up well for having been done at a certain time and certainly they are on the list for assets to be considered for an ultimate box set.
It was pretty heavily insinuated that this release is going to happen and that it will most likely be tied to the beginning of the live action series.
I think it's safe to say that we're getting what we want and it's going to be packed with plenty of extras. I'll have up-to-the-minute updates about this as soon as I can get more information. And remember that this is more information about this than anyone else has at the moment. So keep coming back here for more.
The Geek Show Podcast was kind enough to host the full interview on their iTunes feed, for the full 15 minute interview, click this link. (In the full interview, there's also talk about Indiana Jones on Blu-ray and the oft rumoured fifth Indiana Jones movie.)
I would also urge you all to subscribe to that podcast. In addition to my appearances as a guest panelist now and again, The Geek Show is one of the best sources of geek news and debate in a podcast format.
Comments
Must include pre-1997 (Special Edition) versions in anamorphic HD of the "classic" trilogy, IMHO.
Han shot first, after all. ;)
Even better: Include them with seamless branching (like Close Encounters Blu edition)!
I can't believe he was serious about streaming being any possible reason to consider holding this up. The infrastructure is far from adequate still and for the forseeable futher to make this viable for 99% of folks. And please.... I buy! I don't rent the rights to watch and want to be in a position where I have to watch it within 24 hours. Espeically when it is unlikely I could download all this hidef content in that long! :)
Way to get the inside scoop, Bryan! I can't believe no else bothered to ask. Look forward to hearing the podcast.
THANK YOU for being the only person to ever ask about those vintage documentaries - I obviously want the Star Wars movies on Blu Ray but they will be released anyway - I also have kept the VHS and laserdisc copies of those "making of" documentaries and it would be great to see them finally released on blu ray - unfortunately I won't get rid of my "Making of Star Wars" VHS because they will probably release the new version that removes William Conrad's original voice over with the new voice over by Dan LaFontaine - oh well, can't have everything - thank you again for asking
Amen to Darth Morgul's comments. The Classic Trilogy should not be released unless the true, unmolested version is presented in hi-def.
And for that matter, we deserve a special edition of the prequel trilogy, but in this case, one where it was edited to improve the story, not detract from it. Incorporating the deleted scenes would be a start.
Seamless branching of original and SE is a must, especially if they're going to charge a premium.
"Definitely in the next few years" is not very encouraging." And what's all that baloney about market penetration of streaming? 1. streaming is a pipe dream, literally. The pipes do not currently exist to deliver it at acceptable (1080p) quality. 2. People are not going to pay $100 for the right to stream 6 movies they already own. They will pay for a new set with substantially better picture quality and extras.
Did he say "A Few Year's??" What? I hope the Real Inside Story is "A Few Month's" at most. I just want "film only" blu-ray's of each film with no extra's just to tie me over until the "Big Box Set". Come On GL? My HDTV is "Hungry" 4 the Saga Now. :)
bimska78: Which making ofs are on Laserdisc? I collect laserdiscs and would love to track them down.
A few years, several years, market penetration or streaming!
Give me a break, this is just more standard Lucas PR banter! He waited forever to release the OT on DVD, and when people complained about not having the pre SE editions, we were slapped in the face with substandard transfers from the '94 laserdiscs.
I am sure when it does hit (a couple of years before blu ray is obsolete) we'll get the super ultra mega edition with new additions such as Hayden Christensen's voice replacing James Earl Jones and Greedo killing Han. Also as a bonus, the pre-SE trilogy is presented still in 480P standard def! Oh and the box set will cost $500!
Whatever, won't buy it!
Why is everyone so cynical about Lucas and Star Wars? Seriously, no one's telling you you have to buy it.
It's being put out there for people like me who WANT to buy it. I've got my 94 laserdiscs. And my 96 laserdiscs. And all the VHS copies and DVD copies in between. I LIKE having all the versions...
poor George, he can't win. If he throws them out on blu now and then does the ultimate box later folk'll whine about double dipping, if he makes folk wait, they'll complain they're neglected. E.G: Phantom menace was delayed on dvd while they prepped the deleted scenes etc and people whined they had to wait. If they'd released a bare bones dvd then a special edition later versions folk woulda whined about that too!
Yet bladerunner and alien has been dipped into 27 times on dvd alone, what's ridders doing to dodge the s**t?!
And yes, thanks so much for bringing up the original making of's. I love them and the Indy ones too. The making of temple of doom hasn't been seen since '84 and I'd love to see it again.
For the record, Im a packaging junkie, streaming sucks !
Bryan,
I remember you playing the LDs in the old comic shop on the big screen. Good times.
Partially because of you playing said LDs in the old shop, I went and tracked down the original release SW LDs just so I could remember Han shot first and everything else that made them unique.
Let's hope the magic is there for the Blu-Ray version(s).
Dr. Doom,
Those were indeed good times...
Who is this? Drop me a line...
720p and 1080p rips have been on torrent sites for nearly a couple of years now. Okay, they aren't Bluray, but they are 10 times better than the previous DVD releases. I permanently have the 1080p rips of Episode IV and V on my PS3, they look awesome on a large HD screen.
The Blu-Ray Box Set should not only have all the deleted stuff from all the films but also the internet's "Pink 5 Trilogy" IMO
GUYS!! Duh, they will time it with the release live action series.
I have loved the Movie Star Wars for a long time. I don't like the cartoon or the new version of Star Wars so I don't care to have that in any version. But I have been wanting the original Star Wars Triology for a while. They come out with Star Trek and even have a new film about Star Trek. My older two sisters liked that, but I am from the 80's and I did love the Star Wars movies. And for you all not to come out with a Blu Ray Version would be sad. Please so for all the Star Wars Triology Fans out there please make a Blu Ray Version of Star Wars Triology original version. debijams@yahoo.com - Debora
How come George Lucas is always the last one to advance to a new home entertainment format. He took forever to release Star Wars on DVD and now he's taking forever to release it on bluray. Same thing goes for Indiana Jones. What's the deal? I thought that he thought of himself as the pioneer of cinema technology. You're looking slow Lucas.
hurry up and release it already!!!!
I will buy it if Han shoots first
Personally, I think it would be best if George DID take the time to remaster the original versions, y'know, just for old times' sake. He doesn't even have to release it ever again, just make ONE more decent release of Episodes IV, V, and VI. But if the guy doesn't want to do it, he doesn't want to do it.
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