Next year, Star Wars turns 50.
It will be a year-long celebration of one of the most iconic franchises in movie history, and the festivities are beginning to get underway. We’ve known that the original 1977 cut of the movie, freshly restored, will be brought back to theaters next year, which will be a major deal. But there’s more – lots more.
Lucasfilm revealed a brand new poster, created by Matt Ferguson. His other anniversary posters have been breathtaking, and this one is no different. This poster, celebrating the adventure that started it all, will accompany the re-release of the movie next year. Star Wars will hit theaters on February 19, playing on thousands of screens around the world. A beautiful new version of the theme will accompany the logo at the beginning of the film, composed by the legendary John Williams.
Speaking of John Williams, since his music is such an integral and indispensable part of the saga, it’s only fitting to celebrate the scores next year too. During the first weekend in April, Star Wars in Concert: The Skywalker Saga will take place at the Hollywood Bowl, where the very first Star Wars concert happened in November 1977. Anthony Daniels will host the event, which will include music from all nine Skywalker Saga films, each of which were scored by Williams. That event will coincide with Star Wars Celebration,
Then on May 4, in celebration of Star Wars Day, a brand new documentary about the making of the first film (later subtitled A New Hope) will premiere on Disney+. The documentary, titled The Hero Awakens, is directed by the award-winning R.J. Cutler. Using archival footage and audio from the production of the movie, this documentary will tell how George Lucas brought the franchise to life in 1977.
And then, of course, on May 28 the next chapter in the franchise hits theaters with Starfighter, which stars Ryan Gosling and is directed by Shawn Levy.
It will be a whole year of celebration, and this is just the beginning. Already there are merchandise reveals beginning to happen, and lots more to come. It’s a celebration worthy of Star Wars.
“It is incredibly special to mark the 50th anniversary by returning the original version of Star Wars to theaters so audiences can experience this part of film history on the big screen,” Lucasfilm Co-President Lynwen Brennan said. “We look forward to celebrating with our fans all year long — from the releases of Ahsoka and Star Wars: Starfighter to exclusive merchandise, new publishing stories, unforgettable experiences and interactive games. We are so thankful for our amazing community and hope these experiences bring joy to Star Wars fans everywhere.”
