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Star Wars Prequels Will Not Be Re-Released In 3D After All

Date: Jan 28, 2013 | Author: Rudie Obias | Category: Sci-Fi

Duel

Now that Disney owns Lucasfilm, it looks like they will change the company’s direction, namely with decisions made before the Mouse House acquired them. It appears that Lucasfilm will no longer be re-releasing Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith in 3D later this year. Lucasfilm will now focus all of their attention on the new Star Wars films.

According to Deadline.com, after the weak box office returns on The Phantom Menace 3D up-conversion re-release last February, Lucasfilm decided not to do the same with the remaining films in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. The two films were slated to be re-released in theaters this fall, with Attack of the Clones 3D on September 20th and Revenge of the Sith 3D on October 11th. The Phantom Menace 3D opened to a disappointing $23 million box office.

Lucasfilm made the announcement to re-release the Star Wars saga in theaters with a 3D up-conversion treatment back in September 2010. They announced their plans to re-release Attack of the Clones 3D and Revenge of the Sith 3D back-to-back at Star Wars Celebration VI last August, after the final numbers on The Phantom Menace 3D were dwindling.

Disney executives are now relaunching the franchise with a new screenwriter, Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3), and a new director, J.J. Abrams, so it stands to reason that they would want to reevaluate the direction of the Star Wars brand. But in saying that, it would make sense for them to re-release the entire Star Wars saga before Episode VII is released, if only to re-introduce the franchise to old and new fans alike.

Now that Lucasfilm will focus their attention on the new sequels, will the new films be 3D movies? Considering the box office failure of The Phantom Menace 3D re-release, and that J.J. Abrams is no fan of 3D, some would say absolutely not. Then again, Disney wants to maximize its profits as much as possible, so the cynical answer is probably yes.

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Comments

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Eddie-Boot/521607168 Eddie Boot

    I’m sorta sad to hear this – I enjoyed TPM in 3D at the theaters even though it was mediocre in 3D at best, I still like getting to see Star Wars on the big screen. And I guess this means the original trilogy isn’t getting 3D, either. :(

    • bhak1

      This.

  • Darth Silliarse

    TPM did badly because it’s a bad film. A New Hope and Empire will look amazing, and that’s the real shame of it.

    I saw 3D test footage of ANH and ROTS a few years ago and the digital coldness of ROTS really came through. However the analogue detail in ANH, things like the grime on R2s dome, made it exciting and even as promised “like seeing it for the first time”. It really came to life. They only did the opening sequence but it was clearly great. I don’t care if the new sequels are 3D or not but ANH and maybe even especially ESB deserve it. Picture flying through the ATAT legs or the asteroid field and sigh with heavy heart. That’s where your childhood was and it’s the one time 3D would have been beneficial and wanted.

  • bhak

    I’m really disapointed. Not so much about the 3D, but about missing the opportunity to see them on the big screen in the years leading up to Episode VII. It felt like the perfect way to go into it really. Plus I was one who did go see Episode I last year (best Valentine’s day ever btw) and regardless of it being the weakest of the films it’s still fun and was great to see on the big screen, especially with the girlfriend who had never seen it and left loving it more than I though anyone could like Phantom Menace. She’s seen the original trilogy way back and with me but was holding off on II and III to see them on the big screen. Major bummer.