UPDATE: Lucasfilm Cancel Plans For Any More STAR WARS 3D Re-Releases

Even if you weren't looking forward to seeing the prequels back on the big screen, the appeal of The Empire Strikes Back in 3D is undeniable. Well, it's not happening now! Lucasfilm has decided to focus their efforts on J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode VII. Read on for details!

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By Josh Wilding - 1/28/2013

Deadline reports that Lucasfilm has scrapped plans for any more 3D re-releases of the Star Wars movies. Episode I - The Phantom Menace made only $23 million when it was brought back to the big screen last February which may go some way in explaining why the studio - now owned by Disney - decided it simply wasn't worth the time or expense of any additional 3D conversions. According to Lucasfilm's promotional partners, the plan is to instead focus on "rebooting the franchise". This will obviously kick off with J.J. Abrams' Star Wars: Episode VII, the start of a new trilogy. Episode II - Attack Of The Clones was set to hit theaters in 3D on September 20th, 2013, while Episode III - Revenge Of The Sith was scheduled for release on October 11th, 2013.

UPDATE: The following message was posted moments ago by Lucasfilm on StarWars.com.

Lucasfilm has decided to postpone this fall's scheduled release of Star Wars Episodes II and III in 3D. Given the recent development that we are moving forward with a new Star Wars trilogy, we will now focus 100 percent of our efforts on Star Wars: Episode VII in order to ensure the best possible experience for our fans. We will post further information about our 3D release plans at a later date.

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52 Comments

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	Jollem - 1/28/2013, 12:31 PM Login to report abuse i dunno about this. lucasfilm just keeps eating money and is NEVER satisfied
	Moakynubs - 1/28/2013, 12:31 PM Login to report abuse I was looking forward to seeing the original movies in theaters, being too young to have seen them the first time. Oh well.
	DrDoom - 1/28/2013, 12:35 PM Login to report abuse Fine with me. 3D is [frick]ing stupid. Better to focus on what's going to happen rather than what has.
	mrjones - 1/28/2013, 12:44 PM Login to report abuse thank god...no need to over do it
	TheSkywalkingKnight - 1/28/2013, 12:48 PM Login to report abuse They're still going to release them on Blu-ray 3D I presume.
	ClaireLannister2016 - 1/28/2013, 12:49 PM Login to report abuse
	CaptainObvious - 1/28/2013, 12:51 PM Login to report abuse Dear God, today just seems like a day entirely dedicated to bad news. First GL and YJ are cancelled and now the good Star Wars movies aren't getting re-released. What the hell is going on here?
	wavehunter - 1/28/2013, 12:54 PM Login to report abuse Another silver-lining. 3-D sucks!
	ACira - 1/28/2013, 12:58 PM Login to report abuse I was looking forward to seeing the original trilogy on the big screen, even if it had to be in 3D. Hopefully some other kind of rerelease happens soon.
	themcdougalbugle - 1/28/2013, 12:58 PM Login to report abuse I was kind of excited to seeing Episodes III-VI on the big screen but 3D haters will rejoice.
	fettastic - 1/28/2013, 12:58 PM Login to report abuse Damn, I sold my set in anticipation of getting a 3D Blu-ray set eventually. But really I had seen those movies so many damn times it was just sitting on my shelf.
	indigobolt956 - 1/28/2013, 1:00 PM Login to report abuse WTF i wanted to watch the original trilogy in 3-D! I skipped the shitty prequels cuz i was waiting for the original trilogy!
	indigobolt956 - 1/28/2013, 1:01 PM Login to report abuse but the 3-D would probably be crap on them anyway unless its shot in 3-d then ya
	indigobolt956 - 1/28/2013, 1:02 PM Login to report abuse which obviously the original trilogy wasnt
	hope420 - 1/28/2013, 1:03 PM Login to report abuse Well damn! So much for seeing the Tie Fighters chasing the Falcon in the astroid field in 3D!:(
	HavocPrime - 1/28/2013, 1:03 PM Login to report abuse Good, glad the 3D release never touched the originals. And on that, can they even be called originals now? George has meddled with them so much its hard to say.
	mrHJK - 1/28/2013, 1:17 PM Login to report abuse I'm really disappointed.. I mean honestly The Phantom Menace is the one everyone hates. They'll make more and more with each movie..
	SamHell - 1/28/2013, 1:24 PM Login to report abuse KInda wanted to see Empire in 3-d....oh well, what can ya do??
	Gigacrusher45 - 1/28/2013, 1:25 PM Login to report abuse Good. Take away any support to 3D we can. Rather make the new movies better then see old ones in 3D.
	caveman - 1/28/2013, 1:31 PM Login to report abuse I read "Lucasfilm Cancel Plans For Any More STAR WARS.." and about shit myself.
	jjk2814 - 1/28/2013, 1:35 PM Login to report abuse I had a feeling this would happen. Not too incredibly upset though.
	TheAbomination - 1/28/2013, 1:39 PM Login to report abuse I'm not sure how I feel about this. Episode II and III weren't the best episodes, but I did want to see them in 3D. Plus, I was looking forward to the 3D re-release of the original trilogy since I've never experienced them in movie theater before. I don't know, guys. I've got a bad feeling about this.
	brokenexcitement - 1/28/2013, 1:41 PM Login to report abuse
	TankD - 1/28/2013, 1:43 PM Login to report abuse I bet Abrams was just like " nah thats not a good a idea lets not do that. Lucas you suck im sorry but you just do"
	CrimsonReign - 1/28/2013, 1:45 PM Login to report abuse Well, I went to see TPM again then for NO reason. I hoped it would help fuel our charge to get to Empire in 3D but we have been denied. EP VII had better be good.
	Facade - 1/28/2013, 2:04 PM Login to report abuse Wasn't planning on giving Lucas anymore money anyway.
	sexfoodcomics - 1/28/2013, 2:14 PM Login to report abuse Disney so far for me is hitting home runs left and right with the Star Wars franchise. All they need to do now is re release the ORIGINAL Star Wars on blu ray with a 5.1 remastered track.
	CapFan79 - 1/28/2013, 2:15 PM Login to report abuse I bet they don't want to remind people of the prequels prior to releasing their new sequels. I saw TPM in 3D and it was terrible. The quality of the picture by itself without 3D was still awful. I recall seeing TPM in 1999 and despite whether you like it or not it at least had a great image quality, but now it's all grainy and worn looking. If they're smart they'll make a restored original version on Blu-Ray in 2015 to create hype. Releasing them as they were but with pristine HD prints will do the most for them (especially if the original cast in in Ep VII). I used to like the special editions as just that, "special editions" but with all the changes on DVD then Blu-Ray I've turned into one of the old guys demanding the non CGI versions. I'd love to just have a cleaned up version on the classics.
	beane2099 - 1/28/2013, 2:15 PM Login to report abuse I;m not surprised. I mean, it makes sense to have all of Lucas Arts going full steam ahead on the new trilogy. But if it were me, I'd want those abominations as far removed from the public eye as I could. Not that they wouldn't make money on those new releases though.
	MJPETTY7 - 1/28/2013, 2:21 PM Login to report abuse Makes me mad, but I think after Episode VII, it's entirely possible to see the originals in 3D!!!
	IIIAdamantiumIII - 1/28/2013, 2:29 PM Login to report abuse didn't care about the 3d and Hope JarJar Abrams gets hit by a truck before he can even begin to start filming
	RexMason - 1/28/2013, 2:32 PM Login to report abuse Wha-a-a-a-at????? Go **** yourself Disney!
	harley2011 - 1/28/2013, 2:39 PM Login to report abuse Best thing about JJ. Episode VII shot on film. Not video with some ridiculous higher frame rate.
	Durf - 1/28/2013, 2:45 PM Login to report abuse Works fro me. They aren't necessary anyways
	TheFox - 1/28/2013, 2:49 PM Login to report abuse You know, I wouldn't have thought Disney would turn AWAY from the chance to exploit a property into the ground, but I guess even they thought the whole "release the old films in 3D" gimmick was crass and unnecessary. I just can't believe Disney is turning out to be the more artistically dignified caretakers of the Star Wars franchise... Z
	Brady1138 - 1/28/2013, 2:50 PM Login to report abuse Idiots. The reason the 3D re-release wasn't successful is because it was Episode I. Even non-fans know this to be sort of the weak link of the series. I understand the logic in starting with Episode I, since no one would see it after the originals were already shown, but they shouldn't have expected as significant box office returns for the film as they did.
	Brady1138 - 1/28/2013, 2:53 PM Login to report abuse @Jollem Well, it is a COMPANY. It was built to MAKE MONEY. That's kind of the point of ANY company. And it's never going to be "satisfied" because companies have to SPEND MONEY first to MAKE MONEY...
	CaptainKangarooPimp - 1/28/2013, 3:06 PM Login to report abuse I don't give a shit about rewatching any Star Wars movies in the theatres... I want the UPCOMING Star Wars movies to be timeless classics and watch THEM in the theatre.
	batfan175 - 1/28/2013, 3:18 PM Login to report abuse yeah finally 3D is dying again.
	Maia87 - 1/28/2013, 3:21 PM Login to report abuse I'm OK with that. Re-releasing 30 years old movies with modern 3D is just stupid.
	NoAssemblyReqd - 1/28/2013, 3:35 PM Login to report abuse I wonder how far they got with the conversions. I would love to watch the movies in 3D at home (the only place I can justify shelling out a few extra bucks for it).
	SugarYumYum - 1/28/2013, 4:14 PM Login to report abuse GOOD. Sick of this whole re-release in 3D fad just to add more on top of an already full money pot. Any signs of it slowing down is music to my ears.
	NoAssemblyReqd - 1/28/2013, 4:42 PM Login to report abuse Lucas simply could no longer keep his company going with his slim entertainment offerings of the last few years. Sure, ILM and Skywalker Sound are as big as ever, but Lucasfilm as a whole was surviving on an animated STAR WARS show and regular re-releases of the movies. The lukewarm response to the 3D experiment was probably the last straw, and likely expedited his decision to sell to Disney. Better late than never, in my opinion.
	DrRockso - 1/28/2013, 4:46 PM Login to report abuse Damn I was looking forward to them
	VictorHugo - 1/28/2013, 5:06 PM Login to report abuse Hey, don´t you folks use the word REBOOT when clearly this is not. In this case, nothing is being erased Use the other word REVAMP, which is reinvigorate the series.
	FoxForce5 - 1/28/2013, 7:07 PM Login to report abuse From the sound of it, they're probably just going to wait till closer to the release of Episode 7 to put out 2-6. Either way, if they do end up releasing them all (and I hope they do) I'll take my daughter to see every one of them (as I took her to Episode 1) and really hope I get to since Episode 4: A New Hope was the first movie I saw in a theatre, with my parents, back in '77... damn it, I'm getting old...
	Azrael725 - 1/28/2013, 7:25 PM Login to report abuse I am perfectly happy with this decision. It would've been cool to see Episode IV, V, and VI in theaters though . . . We will probably get some re-releases instead to prep us for Episode VII.
	Ceejay - 1/28/2013, 8:21 PM Login to report abuse [frick] 3D!
	Robert - 1/28/2013, 10:51 PM Login to report abuse Smart move. Sometimes doing NOTHING is doing everything.
	AnungUnRama - 1/29/2013, 2:33 AM Login to report abuse Boooooooooooooooooooooooo. I was looking forward to not just one but even two Star Wars movies at the big screen again this year. I'm very surprised by this news. When they announced to bring not just E2 but even E3 to the theaters this year and later announced E7 I thought the former decision was part of a strategy. Two movies this year, all three OT movies next year so they would all be visually up to date when E7 hits theaters in 2015. Quite the same idea as when they did the Special Edition right before E1 came out. I'm sooooo disappointed. Hope they do it anyway for a blu ray release at least. Was hoping for that. Thought the reason an E1 3D BR hasn't been released yet (Has it?), was because they wanted to release the whole PT as a §D BR set for the Christmas season. And btw E1 3D banked not just 23 million $, but 103(!!!) million at the global box office. E1 even broke the 1 billion mark and re-entered the top 10 of the most successful movies ever, because of the 3d re-release. So it was pretty profitable even though it was the weakest film in the hexalogy. Imagine what the better one would have made.
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