Laserdisc, VHS, Blu-ray… if a physical media format has existed, then it’s a safe bet that the Star Wars movies have appeared on it. Now the classic sci-fi saga is coming out in Digital HD. That’s right; starting April 10th, you’ll finally be able to download the films to your devices.
Announced today via Collider, the coming versions of Episodes I through VI will be available on major digital retailers — including Xbox Video and PlayStation Store — and will be bundled with new extras. Fans should know that these versions will be the same content as the recent Blu-ray releases. Here’s a list of the bonus features:
STAR WARS EPISODE I: The Phantom Menace
- Conversations: Doug Chiang Looks Back
- Discoveries From Inside: Models & Miniatures
- Legacy content includes “The Beginning”; The Podrace: Theatrical Edit; plus eight deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE II: Attack of the Clones
- Conversations: Sounds In Space
- Discoveries From Inside: Costumes Revealed
- Legacy content includes “From Puppets To Pixels: Digital Characters In Episode II”; State Of The Art: The Previsualization Of Episode II; and “Films Are Not Released, They Escape”; plus Episode II Visual Effects Breakdown Montage and six deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE III: Revenge of the Sith
- Conversations: The Star Wars That Almost Was
- Discoveries From Inside: Hologram & Bloopers
- Legacy content includes documentaries “Within A Minute: The Making Of Episode III”; The Journey Part 1; and The Journey Part 2; plus six deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE IV: A New Hope (20th Century Fox)
- Conversations: Creating A Universe
- Discoveries From Inside: Weapons & The First Lightsaber
- Legacy content includes “Anatomy Of A Dewback”; Star Wars Launch Trailer; plus eight deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE V: The Empire Strikes Back
- Conversations: The Lost Interviews
- Discoveries From Inside: Matte Paintings Unveiled
- Legacy content includes “A Conversation With The Masters” (2010); “Dennis Muren: How Walkers Walk”; “George Lucas On Editing The Empire Strikes Back 1979”; and “George Lucas On The Force: 2010”; plus six deleted scenes.
STAR WARS EPISODE VI: Return of the Jedi
- Conversations: The Effects
- Discoveries From Inside: The Sounds Of Ben Burtt
- Legacy content includes “Classic Creatures: Return Of The Jedi”; “Revenge Of The Jedi Teaser Trailer”; Return Of The Jedi Launch Trailer; “It Began TV Spot”; “Climactic Chapter TV Spot”; plus five deleted scenes.
The official press release from Disney mentions that “digital bonus offerings may vary by retailer” — meaning places like iTunes, Google Play, VUDU or Amazon. Here’s an example of what that means if you buy on Xbox Video, via Microsoft’s press release:
Xbox exclusive incentives. Microsoft is offering two exclusive incentives for fans who purchase the six-film bundle on Xbox Video: everyone’s favourite scrappy astromech droid, R2-D2, via Xbox Live avatar companion, and the action-packed Star Wars Pinball Pack for the free-to-play game “Pinball FX 2” for Xbox One or Xbox 360. In addition, Disney is offering an exclusive Star Wars featurette only on Xbox Video; only by pre-purchasing the Saga on Xbox Video will you receive an exclusive early look at the bonus material included in the Star Wars Digital Movie Collection. Customers will receive the Xbox-exclusive featurette when they pre-purchase the Star Wars Digital Movie Collection bundle on Xbox Video on or after April 6th, then all six epic films in the Saga will be added to their collection in their high-def. glory on April 10th.
Update: If you’ve been wondering what it’s going to cost to get Star Wars: The Digital Movie Collection, the Google Play store will be offering the movies individually at $US19.99 or as a $US89 bundle.
Comments
15 responses to “Star Wars Is Being Re-Released. Again.”
But at they the originals or the butchered versions?
I’m sure it’ll be the “special” ie butchered versions. I’ve just about given up on ever getting a decent copy of the originals. It’s a sad state of affairs when my old THX mastered VHS tapes of the original trilogy are still the best version I can get.
Rumours still floating around that Disney are planning to re-release the original versions on Blu-Ray around Christmas (with episode VII launch).
I’m hoping but not expecting it..
I keep seeing posts on social media telling us to expect them to be released… then somebody else counter posts that Lucas didn’t sell everything to Disney and that the distribution rights for that are still at another company.
I wish there was some definitive answer.
Disney would be fools NOT to sell the original versions if they are legally permitted to. Those things will be a license to print money. Also, I am not buying these films again until Disney are licensed to print money as specified in the previous sentence.
You could try to track down a copy of The Despecialized Edition.
Unless Disney decides to release blu-ray editions of the original, pre- Special Edition versions, it’s the closest you’ll get to seeing them in high-definition.
x2, I’m just not giving a cent for star wars until I can get the original theatrical trilogy in HD.
I can’t believe they don’t pack in both for extra $$$$
“Noooooooooooooooo!”
Im sure I already downloaded these.
I saw this last night and was so excited. And then I remembered this morning and was excited again. Hurrah!
ALSO this means that maybe Indiana Jones will come out digitally next? I need me some Temple of Doom on demand.
Hey Disney! Most of us oldies want the version we saw growing up. We’d really like to retire our VHS players, thanks.
Nah, I’m good.
There should be a service that converts BluRay quality films into VHS quality to stream to your TV.
I don’t have a VHS player anymore so if they are the originals then I could very well end up getting it.
NOOOOOOOOO!!!!
No thanks. I’m only interested in the original versions.