STAR WARS Is Heading Back to Theaters for Its 50th Anniversary Celebration

by · GeekTyrant

It’s hard to believe, but Star Warsis about to turn 50 years old, and how is the galaxy far, far away planning to celebrate this massive milestone? By heading back to where it all began… the big screen.

Disney just announced that George Lucas’ original Star Wars will be re-released in theaters on April 30, 2027, giving fans a chance to experience the iconic space adventure the way it was meant to be seen.

While the official anniversary lands on May 25, 2027, Disney is dropping the re-release a little early because that weekend is already locked in for the debut of a brand-new film, Star Wars: Starfighter, starring Ryan Gosling.

This theatrical return comes hot on the heels of Star Wars Celebration Los Angeles, which runs from April 1 to 4, 2027. With all eyes on the franchise during that time, you can bet Lucasfilm will lean in hard on promoting the return of the original film. There’s even a chance we’ll see some of the original cast and crew reunite during the celebration.

The big mystery right now is what version of Star Wars fans will get. Will it be the 1997 Special Edition, the version George Lucas considers definitive, complete with added scenes and updated visual effects? That’s the safe bet.

But there’s a growing glimmer of hope among die-hard fans. Just last month, Kathleen Kennedy attended a rare screening of an untouched original print of Star Wars, not even labeled asEpisode IV: A New Hope. That screening has fans wondering if Lucasfilm is gearing up for something even more special.

Maybe they’re cooking up a new restoration of the unaltered theatrical version. Or even a version that fuses the best elements from both cuts. Whatever it is, if Lucasfilm drops the original, unedited classic, it’ll be the holy grail moment fans have been dreaming of.

The 1977 classic tells the story of a farm boy named Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, who gets swept into a galaxy-wide rebellion with Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher), Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness), and the roguish Han Solo (Harrison Ford). It changed cinema forever and kicked off a cultural phenomenon that includes sequels, prequels, spinoffs, shows, novels, comics, and a mountain of collectibles.

So, get ready to relive the magic. Whether it’s the original theatrical cut or the Special Edition, Star Wars returning to theaters in 2027 is going to be a fun event for longtime fans and a perfect introduction for a new generation.