Editing Star Wars (film) (section)

=== Theatrical re-releases ===
{{See also|Changes in Star Wars re-releases}}
[[File:Opening crawl.jpg|thumb|upright|The film's opening features the ''Star Wars'' logotype. The 1981 theatrical re-release  added ''Episode IV'' and ''A New Hope'' to the start of the text crawl.]]

''Star Wars'' was re-released theatrically in 1978, 1979, 1981, and 1982.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Clark |first1=Mark |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pAjYCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT344 |title=Star Wars FAQ: Everything Left to Know About the Trilogy That Changed the Movies |date=2015 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-1-4950-4608-7 |access-date=April 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131212344/https://books.google.com/books?id=pAjYCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT344 |archive-date=January 31, 2021 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Subtitle (titling)|subtitles]] ''Episode IV'' and ''A New Hope'' were added for the 1981 re-release.<ref name="Lucasfilmname">{{cite web |title=Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope |url=http://lucasfilm.com/star-wars-episode-4-a-new-hope |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140215040725/http://lucasfilm.com/star-wars-episode-4-a-new-hope |archive-date=February 15, 2014 |access-date=December 22, 2014 |publisher=[[Lucasfilm]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Rinzler |first=J. W. |title=The Making of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back |date=2010 |publisher=Random House Worlds |isbn=978-0-345-50961-1 |edition=First |pages=n241–n243 |language=English |oclc=657407687}}</ref>{{Efn|In ''The Cinema of George Lucas'', Marcus Hearn claims the title was changed earlier, in July 1978 (Hearn 2005, p.124).}} The subtitles brought the film into line with its 1980 sequel, which was released as ''Star Wars: Episode V—The Empire Strikes Back''.<ref name="inverse">{{cite magazine |last=Britt |first=Ryan |date=April 11, 2018 |title=When Did 'Star Wars' Become 'A New Hope?' 37 Years Ago, Everything Changed |url=https://www.inverse.com/article/43533-star-wars-a-new-hope-title-change-episode-iv-1981-1977 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824183310/https://www.inverse.com/article/43533-star-wars-a-new-hope-title-change-episode-iv-1981-1977 |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |access-date=August 24, 2018 |magazine=Inverse |quote=}}</ref> Lucas claims the subtitles were intended from the beginning, but were dropped for ''Star Wars'' to avoid confusing audiences.<ref>{{cite magazine |year=1980 |title=Interview: George Lucas |url=http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/specialreports/banthatracks/archives/banthatracks08.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130623142537/http://www.jeditemplearchives.com/specialreports/banthatracks/archives/banthatracks08.pdf |archive-date=June 23, 2013 |access-date=October 15, 2018 |magazine=Bantha Tracks |publisher=Lucasfilm, Ltd. |location=Universal City, CA |pages=1–2 |issue=8 |quote= |editor=Craig Miller}}</ref> Kurtz said they considered calling the first film Episode III, IV, or V.<ref>{{cite web |last=Taylor |first=Chris |date=September 27, 2014b |title='Star Wars' Producer Blasts 'Star Wars' Myths |url=https://mashable.com/2014/09/27/star-wars-myths-gary-kurtz/#V5qk02DJeuqo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181015153402/https://mashable.com/2014/09/27/star-wars-myths-gary-kurtz/#V5qk02DJeuqo |archive-date=October 15, 2018 |access-date=October 15, 2018 |website=Mashable |quote=}}</ref> Hamill claims that Lucas's motivation for starting with Episode IV was to give the audience "a feeling that they'd missed something". Lucas began with Episodes IV–VI, according to Hamill, because they were the most "commercial" sections of the larger overarching story.<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5Iv_sazoGg&t=5m49s |title=Mark Hamill - Full Q&A |date=March 8, 2016 |time=5:50 |access-date=January 27, 2020 |publisher=Oxford Union|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/_5Iv_sazoGg |archive-date=December 11, 2021 |url-status=live |via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref>{{sfn|Kaminski|2008|page=504}} Michael Kaminski, however, points out that multiple early screenplay drafts of ''Star Wars'' carried an "Episode One" subtitle, and that early drafts of ''Empire'' were called "Episode II".{{sfn|Kaminski|2008|page=504}}

In 1997, ''Star Wars'' was digitally remastered with some altered scenes for a theatrical re-release, dubbed the "Special Edition". In 2010, Lucas announced that all six previously released ''Star Wars'' films would be scanned and transferred to [[3D film|3D]] for a theatrical release, but only 3D versions of the prequel trilogy were completed before the franchise was sold to Disney in 2012.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Fernandez |first1=Jay |last2=Masters |first2=Kim |date=September 28, 2010 |title='Star Wars' saga set for 3D release starting 2012 |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-wars-saga-set-3d-28485 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203125712/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/star-wars-saga-set-3d-28485 |archive-date=December 3, 2017 |access-date=January 19, 2018 |magazine=[[The Hollywood Reporter]]}}</ref> In 2013, ''Star Wars'' was dubbed into [[Navajo language|Navajo]], making it the first major motion picture dubbed into the Navajo language.<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.statepress.com/2013/10/03/alumna-four-others-dub-star-wars-film-into-navajo-language/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004160209/http://www.statepress.com/2013/10/03/alumna-four-others-dub-star-wars-film-into-navajo-language/ |archive-date=October 4, 2013 |title=Alumna, four others dub Star Wars film into Navajo language |publisher=[[Arizona State University]] |date=October 4, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Translated Into Navajo, 'Star Wars' Will Be |url=https://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/193496493/translated-into-navajo-star-wars-will-be |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181128053645/https://www.npr.org/2013/06/20/193496493/translated-into-navajo-star-wars-will-be |archive-date=November 28, 2018 |access-date=March 5, 2019 |website=NPR.org}}</ref>

==== Special Edition ====
[[File:Star Wars (1997 re-release poster).jpg|thumb|upright=0.75|The theatrical release poster for the 1997 Special Edition]]

After ILM began to create CGI for Steven Spielberg's 1993 film ''[[Jurassic Park (film)|Jurassic Park]]'', Lucas decided that digital technology had caught up to his "original vision" for ''Star Wars''.<ref name="Dreams" /> For the film's 20th anniversary in 1997, ''Star Wars'' was digitally remastered with some altered scenes and re-released to theaters, along with ''The Empire Strikes Back'' and ''Return of the Jedi'', under the campaign title ''Star Wars'' Trilogy: Special Edition. This version of ''Star Wars'' runs 124 minutes.

The Special Edition contains visual shots and scenes that were unachievable in the original film due to financial, technological, and time constraints.<ref name="Dreams" /> The process of creating the new visual effects was explored in the documentary ''[[Special Effects: Anything Can Happen]]'', directed by ''Star Wars'' sound designer Ben Burtt.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kwinn|first=Ann|title=Special Effects: Anything Can Happen|url=http://www.boxoffice.com/reviews/2008-08-special-effects?q=John+Lithgow|work=[[Boxoffice (magazine)|Boxoffice]]|publisher=Boxoffice Media |access-date=May 20, 2014|date=July 4, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140521032352/http://www.boxoffice.com/reviews/2008-08-special-effects?q=John+Lithgow |archive-date=May 21, 2014}}</ref> Although most changes are minor or cosmetic in nature, many fans and critics believe that Lucas degraded the film with the additions.<ref name="Changes">{{cite web|publisher=DVDActive.com|title=Star Wars: The Changes|url=http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-one.html |access-date=September 27, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223003329/http://www.dvdactive.com/editorial/articles/star-wars-the-changes-part-one.html |archive-date=December 23, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Restoring Star Wars">{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-14/restoring-star-wars/6994818|title=Restoring Star Wars|work=ABC News |access-date=December 18, 2015|date=December 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170124070713/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-14/restoring-star-wars/6994818|archive-date=January 24, 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Doesn't Want You">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/08/the-star-wars-george-lucas-doesnt-want-you-to-see/379184/|title=The Star Wars George Lucas Doesn't Want You To See|date=August 27, 2014|first=Rose|last=Eveleth|author-link=Rose Eveleth |magazine=The Atlantic |access-date=November 19, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828030602/http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2014/08/the-star-wars-george-lucas-doesnt-want-you-to-see/379184/|archive-date=August 28, 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> A particularly controversial change in which a bounty hunter named Greedo shoots first when confronting Han Solo has inspired T-shirts bearing the phrase "[[Han shot first]]".<ref name="HSF">{{cite web|website=StarWars.com|publisher=Lucasfilm|title=Exclusive T-shirts to Commemorate DVD Release|url=https://www.starwars.com/collecting/shop/shopnews/news20060503.html |access-date=August 14, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902034847/http://starwars.com/collecting/shop/shopnews/news20060503.html |archive-date=September 2, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://collider.com/star-wars-blu-ray-changes-2/112594/|title=More Changes to STAR WARS Include Blinking Ewoks and Different Cut of Greedo Shooting First |access-date=September 19, 2011|date=September 1, 2011|magazine=[[Collider (website)|Collider]]|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110925081226/http://collider.com/star-wars-blu-ray-changes-2/112594|archive-date = September 25, 2011|url-status = live}}</ref>

''Star Wars'' required extensive recovery of misplaced footage and restoration of the whole film before Lucas's Special Edition modifications could be attempted. In addition to the negative film stock commonly used for feature films, Lucas had also used Color Reversal [[Internegative]] (CRI) film, a reversal stock subsequently discontinued by Kodak. Although it theoretically was of higher quality, CRI deteriorated faster than negative stocks. Because of this, the entire composited negative had to be disassembled, and the CRI portions cleaned separately from the negative portions. Once the cleaning was complete, the film was scanned into the computer for restoration. In many cases, entire scenes had to be reconstructed from their individual elements. Digital compositing technology allowed the restoration team to correct for problems such as misalignment of mattes and "blue-spill".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theasc.com/magazine/starwars/articles/sped/ssws/pg1.htm|title=Saving the Star Wars Saga – page 1|publisher=[[American Society of Cinematographers]] |access-date=February 3, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120921225101/http://www.theasc.com/magazine/starwars/articles/sped/ssws/pg1.htm |archive-date=September 21, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1989, the 1977 theatrical version of ''Star Wars'' was selected for preservation by the National Film Registry of the United States [[Library of Congress]].<ref name="NFR-Titles" /> 35&nbsp;mm reels of the 1997 Special Edition were initially presented for preservation because of the difficulty of transferring from the original prints, but it was later revealed that the Library possessed a copyright deposit print of the original theatrical release.<ref name="Andrews-NFR" /> By 2015, this copy had been transferred to a [[2K resolution|2K]] scan, now available to be viewed by appointment.<ref name="mashable.com">{{cite web|last=Ulanoff|first=Lance|title=The search for the 'Star Wars' George Lucas doesn't want you to see|url=http://mashable.com/2015/12/17/star-wars-original-cut/#q9dBHW8NZkq0|website=Mashable|date=December 17, 2015 |access-date=October 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161013075503/http://mashable.com/2015/12/17/star-wars-original-cut/#q9dBHW8NZkq0|archive-date=October 13, 2016|url-status=live}}</ref> Shortly after the release of ''[[Rogue One: A Star Wars Story]],'' director [[Gareth Edwards (filmmaker)|Gareth Edwards]] claimed he viewed a 4K restoration of the original theatrical version of ''Star Wars'', created by Disney. The company has never confirmed its existence, however.<ref>{{cite web |first=Vikram |last=Murthi | url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/rogue-one-gareth-edwards-4k-restoration-a-new-hope-star-wars-1201762331/ | title='Rogue One' Director Gareth Edwards Says There's a 4K Restoration of 'A New Hope' |work=IndieWire | date=December 23, 2016 | access-date=November 15, 2023 | archive-date=November 15, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231115044826/https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/rogue-one-gareth-edwards-4k-restoration-a-new-hope-star-wars-1201762331/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=David |title=Gareth Edwards: The Last Detail |url=http://lwlies.com/interviews/gareth-edwards-rogue-one-a-star-wars-story/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227191916/http://lwlies.com/interviews/gareth-edwards-rogue-one-a-star-wars-story/ |archive-date=December 27, 2017 |access-date=January 19, 2018 |work=Little White Lies}}</ref>