LucasFilm said the IMAX 70mm prints will be struck from a "newly restored version of the original movie," confirming that the presentation will use the original cut rather than a later remastered edition. The studio also scheduled the franchise's newest entry, Star Wars: Starfighter, for IMAX 70mm exhibition on May 28, 2027, exactly 50 years after the first film's weekend premiere.
The original 1977 release has been rarely seen in its unaltered form; official screenings of that cut have only happened twice since 1997, and both took place at a UK film festival last year. The 70mm IMAX engagement means the film will be shown on 59 by 79 foot screens with John Williams' score presented in 12-channel surround sound, a scale and audio setup intended to foreground the film's theatrical impact.
Star Wars: Starfighter was shot digitally on Sony's IMAX-certified CineAlta Venice 2 cameras, captured in an 8.6K source and delivered with a 4K master, with reports that Tom Cruise handled the camera at points during production. Because IMAX 70mm exhibition can exceed 14K resolution, the newer film will be upscaled and digitally converted to create its 70mm prints rather than being shown from native film negative.
The staggered dates mean the franchise will offer both a preservation-focused archival presentation and a contemporary digital-to-70mm conversion on IMAX screens in 2027. LucasFilm's confirmation of a restoration struck from the original cut makes the February screening especially notable for viewers who prefer the 1977 edition without later added scenes or effects.
Both events are positioned as limited theatrical opportunities in 2027; viewers who want to attend should note the Feb. 19 date for A New Hope and the May 28 date for Starfighter as the confirmed IMAX 70mm engagements.
