Star Wars is heading somewhere it has surprisingly never been before: IMAX. Nearly 50 years after George Lucas’ original movie changed cinema forever, the 1977 classic is officially getting its first-ever IMAX release as part of the franchise’s huge 50th anniversary celebrations in 2027.
According to StarWars.com, a newly restored version of the original 1977 theatrical release — later renamed Star Wars: A New Hope — will return to theaters for a limited run beginning February 19, 2027. The rerelease forms part of Lucasfilm’s yearlong celebration of the movie’s 50th anniversary, with the latest announcement confirming that the classic will also be presented in IMAX for the first time.
Notably, Lucasfilm says the rerelease will feature a newly restored version of the original 1977 theatrical cut, meaning audiences should finally get to see one of the franchise’s most famously altered moments on the big screen again: Han Solo shooting Greedo before the bounty hunter can fire.
The original movie won’t be the only Star Wars adventure getting the IMAX treatment in 2027. Shawn Levy’s Star Wars: Starfighter will also screen at select IMAX 70mm locations when it arrives on May 28, 2027. The standalone adventure stars Ryan Gosling as Kade Auberon alongside Matt Smith, Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre, Amy Adams, and Flynn Gray, and takes place in a previously unexplored period of the Star Wars timeline.
Star Wars Fans React to Historic IMAX Release
The announcement quickly caught the attention of Star Wars fans on Reddit, with many excited about finally seeing the original movie on the biggest possible screen. One fan clearly didn’t need much convincing, writing, “Oh hell yeah, A New Hope in Imax…take my money!”
Over on the r/boxoffice subreddit, the prospect of seeing the original theatrical version generated plenty of discussion. “Still can’t believe they’re releasing the original version of Star Wars. Did George Lucas approve this or is he just too retired to try and fight it,” one person wrote. Another commenter responded by pointing to the reported discovery of a preserved theatrical copy, adding, “While not technically an original print, it is the movie people saw in 1977.”
Starfighter generated some skepticism of its own. One fan questioned how the movie would be marketed, particularly around Ryan Gosling’s role and the apparent lack of legacy characters, while another was much more direct: “Hoping it’s not another Star Wars babysitting story. We have more than enough of those already.”
When it finally arrives in theaters next year, the chance to see the original Star Wars in IMAX should be a special experience for longtime fans and newcomers alike. Whether Starfighter can generate the same level of excitement remains to be seen, but 2027 is already shaping up to be a huge year for a galaxy far, far away.
