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of late , it was reported Disney was in lecture to develop the amusement division of 21st Century Fox , and while talk about such a deal have now give way off , it ’s worth wondering what that merger would mean for theStar Warsfranchise . Prior to the Mouse House ’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012 , the original six sequence of the Skywalker saga were disperse by twentieth Century Fox , the only studio apartment uncoerced to give George Lucas an honest shot at earn his visual modality back in the 1970s . There ’s no deny it was a fruitful partnership , asStar Warsredefined the moving-picture show diligence in more ways than one and spawn perhaps the most beloved franchise in pop culture . The galaxy far , far aside now call Disney home , but the property is in an interesting stead due to its history with Fox . In the backwash of these give-and-take becoming public , there was much lecture overwhat encroachment it could have on Marvel motion-picture show , as Fox bear on to own the rights to X - humankind , the Fantastic Four , and related theatrical role . However , this would also have some interesting ramifications forStar Warsshould it ever come to pass - potentially gift longtime buff the one affair they ’ve always wanted .
Star Wars Movie Rights
Even though Disney is now the owner of Lucasfilm ( and , by annexe , Star WarsandIndiana Jones ) , they do not yet posses the rights to all of the celluloid that have been released - and they never will . Under the terms of the agreement after Lucas sold , Disney will acquire the rights toThe Empire Strikes Back , Return of the Jedi , and the complete prequel trilogy in May 2020 . You will notice the picture show that started it all , A New Hope , is not included on this list , and that ’s because Fox have it in perpetuity . Whereas Lucas independently produced and financed his final fiveStar Warsinstallments , he was partner on the 1977 smash with Fox , so they ’ll always be able to hazard title to it .
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bring the likes of Wolverine and Marvel ’s First Family to the MCU is doubtlessly a motivating gene in Disney ’s interest in acquiring Fox , but sure as shooting theNew Hoperights are a fundamental factor as well . Because of this issue , it would be a fiddling complicated to put together a unexampled box Seth of the original trilogy or the complete saga once 2020 rolls around . WithEpisode IXset to hit theater in December 2019 ( meaning , it will be uncommitted on home medium the following give ) , the studio apartment would most in all likelihood want to release some variety of special collection to commemorate the full ( at least for now ) story . plainly , you ca n’t haveA New Hopemissing , so something has to be done soon . Some might have think Disney and Fox would chance upon a deal standardized to the one Marvel and Sony made for Spider - Man , but apparently Bob Iger thought it ’d be prosperous to just buy Fox . Time will severalize if the sides will resume their talks .
Even if Disney never does win Fox ( which would probably be for the best ) , the studio will likely visualise out theNew Hopedilemma at some point because there ’s money to be made , and company like money . A monumental , nine - flick boxful set loaded with bonus material would betray like hotcakes and be perfect for the die - heavy devotee , so the burden is on the parties to get an arrangement in stead . Fortunately , they have some sentence before this becomes a major number , though the pressure is slowly beginning to mount . The fact Disney was even consider buying Fox illustrates those involve are aware of the problem the rights thing presents and are trying to pursue a suited solution . Since Mickey Mouse is n’t expand his conglomerate anytime soon , everyone has to go back to the draft board .
Of course , whenever the original trilogy is the topic of conversation , the vista of finally seeing the unchanged versions of those seminal films is border to pop up . In the five years since the Disney acquisition , this has been the enceinte , non - movie rumor to come out up , with multiple report popping up ( including a claim from John Landis that such a set was in the works ) . Of of course , none of these ever amounted into anything , so now people are pinning their hopes on this potential Fox / Disney merger . unluckily , it would n’t likely help matters .
Lucasfilm Won’t Release The Unaltered Trilogy
A re - release of the unchanged trilogy is a liberal bargain for fan than it is for Lucasfilm . The last time the first three motion-picture show were made available in their original , theatrical glory was 2006 on improbably poor videodisk transfers that were non - anamorphic and ill - suit for widescreen televisions . HD variation of the trilogy ( most famously the Despecialized Editions ) can be downloaded online , but many fans would happily branch over whatever it be to get them on an actual , studio - sanction Blu - ray button . deplorably , that does n’t come along to be in the cards at all .
Related:The Unaltered Original Trilogy Deserves Blu-ray Release
DuringStar WarsCelebration Orlando , Lucasfilm prexy Kathleen Kennedy nixed the mind , saying that those films were Lucas ' and she would n’t think of touching them . It ’s important to mark that there ’s no term in plaza that bars the studio from venture on some sort of renovation project should they select to , it just is n’t a priority for them at this juncture . As far as they ’re concerned , the version found on the 2011 Blu - beam are definitively canon and should be left alone . Granted , it ’s frustrating that there are multiple versions of cultural touchstones likeThe Lord of the RingsandBlade Runnerreadily available while the original cold shoulder ofStar Warsfade further and further into reconditeness , but each scenario is unlike . In this slip , when Lucas made the first exceptional editions in 1997 , he made alterations to the photographic film prints themselves , so it would take a scrupulous amount of work to put them back in their initial bod .
Disney buzz off the right toA New Hopedoesn’t conform any of that and belike would n’t inspire a change of thinker in Kennedy . Lucasfilm ’s primary concern is take care in front to the hereafter , develop the next decade of contentwhile also closing out the continuation trilogy and gettingSolo : A Star Wars Storyacross the last wrinkle . The original trilogy in all likelihood wo n’t be part of their plans until the said ultimate saga boxful dress with the nine installment . Chances are , if the unchanged editions were to be formally bring out , it would have happened by now . There have been multiple Blu - rays over the preceding six twelvemonth , and 2017 marked the fortieth anniversary ofStar Wars . As difficult as it is to see , rooter have to resign themselves to the opinion the legendary theatrical box readiness will never come to be .
The only wayStar Warswould be impacted in the event Disney bribe Fox is that all of the movie would be under the same cap three years from now , making it simpler to put the entire serial in a individual collector ’s home media discharge . Whether or not the unaltered cuts ofNew Hope , Empire Strikes Back , andReturn of the Jedisee the light of 24-hour interval is altogether up to Lucasfilm , and they ’ve done nothing to indicate they are concerned in bringing them back ( despite the fact such a circle would make Jack of hard currency ) . For better or worse , Greedo shooting first , " Jedi Rocks , " and Hayden Christensen ’s Force wraith are here to stay on . The only thing Disney desire is the rights toA New Hope , since the gross saga Blu - ray curing would be a top seller regardless of what versions were on there .
Conclusion
This would - be acquisition is sure more exciting for the essence it would have on the MCU rather thanStar Wars . As far as our favourite coltsfoot is concerned , some red magnetic tape when it comes to future box sets would be eliminate , and that ’s reasonably much it . Disney is in full control of all other aspect of theStar Warsfranchise and proceed to reap the benefits of their $ 4 billion property . With more movie , a bevy of publication , and a theme park on the agency , there ’s slight the Mouse House has to gain from a Disney / Fox merger . One day , theNew Hopesituation will have to be purpose , but that ’s a good interrogative for another metre .
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