In response to overwhelming demand, Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment will release attractively priced individual two-disc releases of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Each release includes the 2004 digitally remastered version of the movie and, as bonus material, the theatrical edition of the film. That means you'll be able to enjoy Star Wars as it first appeared in 1977, Empire in 1980 and Jedi in 1983.

See the title crawl to Star Wars before it was known as Episode IV; see the pioneering, if dated, motion control model work on the attack on the Death Star; groove to Lapti Nek or the Ewok Celebration song like you did when you were a kid; and yes, see Han Solo shoot first.

This release will only be available for a limited time: from September 12th to December 31st. International release will follow on or about the same day. Each original theatrical version will feature Dolby 2.0 Surround sound, close-captioning, and subtitles in English, French and Spanish for their U.S. release. International sound and subtitling vary by territory.

"Over the years, a truly countless number of fans have told us that they would love to see and own the original version that they remember experiencing in theaters," said Jim Ward, President of LucasArts and Senior Vice President of Lucasfilm Ltd. "We returned to the Lucasfilm Archives to search exhaustively for source material that could be presented on DVD. This is something that we're very excited to be able to give to fans in response to their continuing enthusiasm for Star Wars. Topping it off with a new interactive adventure makes September 12 a red-letter day for Star Wars fans."

Changes to the classic trilogy for the DVD release:

Episode 4: A New Hope:
- 24 minutes (M) 51 seconds (S) into the film: twin sun effect has been added.
- 48 M 50 S Han Solo avoids Greedo's shot before shooting at him.
- 50 M 30 S: Jabba the Hutt computer animation changed in accordance with Episode 1.
- 71 M 30 S and after: Death Star detention-block corridor is much deeper.
- 77 M: Dianoga (trash-compactor monster) has been improved.
- 82 M 10 S: "Power" and "Tractor Beam" English words have been replaced with Star Wars "Basic" language.

Episode 5: The Empire Strikes Back:
- 50 M 56 S to 52 M 05 S: The Emperor's hologram has been replaced with Ian McDiarmid. New dialog has been recorded whereby Palpatine informs Vader about Luke's real identity.
- 63 M 42 S, 87 M 18 S and 98 M 39 S: Boba Fett's dialog has been replaced with Temuera Morrison‘s (Jango Fett from Attack of the Clones) voice over.
- 92 M 05 S and 92 M 15 S: Han Solo's black jacket has been erased, due to cut mistakes in the original movie.
- 101 M 40S: Luke's scream, which was added in the 1997 Special Edition, has been removed again.

Episode 6: Return Of The Jedi:
- 24 M 44 S and after: Edge transparency defects around the Rancor have been removed.
- 115 M 41 S: Old Anakin's eyebrows have been erased and eyes are now blue, to fit with Hayden Christensen.
- 120 M 44 S: Naboo has been added to Tatooine, Bespin, Coruscant and Endor victory celebration scenes.
- 120 M 58 S and 121 M 03 S: Senate and Jedi Temple are now included in Coruscant panoramic view.
- 122 M 30 S: Hayden Christensen (Anakin) appears as a ghost beside Yoda and old Obi-Wan at the end of the movie.

All of the unforgettable heroism, villainy and epic adventure of George Lucas' classic STAR WARS trilogy comes to the ultimate home-entertainment format for the very first time around the world this September from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment, ending the wait for the most-anticipated DVD release ever. The four-disc collection will be released on September 21, 2004 in the U.S.A and Canada, with international release dates following closely.

"We know how long fans have waited for this release and how much they have been looking forward to it, so everyone has been working overtime to make sure that the STAR WARS TRILOGY on DVD is an awesome experience," said Jim Ward, Vice President of Marketing and Distribution for Lucasfilm Ltd. and the DVD collection's Executive Producer.

The STAR WARS TRILOGY tops the list of "cinephiles' most-requested titles never released on the format," according to a May 2003 E! Online report. Further, the three STAR WARS TRILOGY films -- "Star Wars: A New Hope," "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi" -- also hold the top three spots on Amazon.com's "most-requested DVDs" list.

"Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope," "Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back" and "Episode VI: Return of the Jedi" will be available in a four-disc set that includes a bonus disc filled with all-new special features -- including the most comprehensive feature-length documentary ever produced about the Star Wars saga and never-before-seen footage from the making of all three films. Each of the three films in the STAR WARS TRILOGY has been digitally restored and re-mastered by THX for superior sound and picture quality.

"First and foremost, the DVDs will deliver the very best possible sound and picture and take advantage of everything the medium can offer. On top of that, we are creating added-value material that gets inside the creation of the Star Wars films in a fresh and fun way," Ward said. "We want watching this DVD collection to be as memorable as seeing the movies for the first time."

The films of the STAR WARS TRILOGY will be available exclusively as a collection and will feature Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX. All three films are closed-captioned and subtitled in English, French and Spanish in the U.S. Internationally, sound and subtitling specifications will vary by territory.

The Star Wars DVDs will include the much-debated special-edition versions director Lucas released in 1997 with new digital effects and plot twists that softened the character of Han Solo - even though DVD makes it easy to offer both the original and director's cut of a movie. It's simply a matter of an artist's right, says Jim Ward, a Lucasfilm vice president and the executive producer of the set.

"We realize there's a lot of debate out there," says Ward. "But this is not a democracy. We love our fans, but this is about art and filmmaking. [George] has decided that the sole version he wants available is this one."

The original "Star Wars" from 1977 is the second-highest-grossing movie of all time in the U.S. (behind "Titanic"), and all three "Star Wars" movies in the trilogy still rank in the Top 20.

The boxed set was scheduled to come out after the release of the sixth movie, now known simply as "Star Wars: Episode III." But the films' creator, George Lucas, "found some time" to work on the DVD version, said Jim Ward, Lucasfilm vice president of marketing and distribution and DVD executive producer. "He was willing and eager to make it happen," Ward said.

Lucas will provide a director's commentary for the classic Star Wars trilogy DVDs. A Lucasfilm spokeswoman could not confirm which actors or crew members would appear for the extra features on the DVD. The fourth disc in the set will include a feature-length documentary about the "Star Wars" saga and never-before-seen footage from the making of the three films.

"We are currently in the process of restoring and remastering all three titles for the DVD release, so we're still working on details of the marketing strategy," Ward said. "But I believe that it is safe to say that it will receive tremendous exposure across all media."

Lucasfilm and Fox chose the September release date to maximise on holiday gift buying during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons, 20th Century Fox president Mike Dunn said.

"We sold about 17 million VHS 'Star Wars' units during two fall release periods in '95 and '97," he said.

Classic Trilogy DVD Contents and Specifications

When the Star Wars trilogy arrives on DVD on September 21, the digitally remastered and restored films will be accompanied by over 10 hours of bonus material that goes inside the making of these classic movies. Each film resides on its own disc, with sharp, pristene imagery restored and remastered by Lowry Digital Images, and the rich sound experience of the saga presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround EX. The films also include new commentary tracks, featuring insights from George Lucas, director Irvin Kershner, actress Carrie Fisher, sound designer Ben Burtt, and Industrial Light & Magic's Dennis Muren.

The fourth disc is packed with bonus material, the most notable being Empire of Dreams: The Story of the Star Wars Trilogy. This two-and-a-half hour documentary traces the evolution of the saga, from a low-budget labor-of-love space saga to the movie phenomenon that defied the odds and reinvented the rules.

This comprehensive documentary features all new interviews with George Lucas and more than 40 members of the cast and crew from the original trilogy, as well as a host of filmmakers and media personalities. Empire of Dreams includes some never-before-seen behind-the-scenes footage from the making of the three films.

Other material on the fourth disc includes:

Episode III Behind the Scenes Preview: The Return of Darth Vader: Finally, Star Wars: Episode III will reveal just how Anakin Skywalker became Darth Vader, the most iconic villain in film history. In this exclusive preview, George Lucas discusses Anakin's descent, with a first look at the new Vader costume forged for Episode III. Also, experience how Hayden Christensen and Ewan McGregor have prepared for the epic lightsaber battle that has been anticipated for more than two decades: the climactic showdown between Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi.

The Birth of the Lightsaber: Its unforgettable hum and scintillating glow are instantly recognizable around the world. Now, viewers will discover the origins of this elegant weapon from a more civilized age in this documentary devoted to the lightsaber.

The Characters of Star Wars: An in-depth look at how favorite characters came to be, featuring rare concept art, behind-the-scenes footage and interviews with George Lucas and the cast and crew who shaped the screen's favorite heroes.

The Force Is With Them: The Legacy of Star Wars: Star Wars opened up a galaxy of possibilities to a generation of filmmakers and creative talents. Hear from some of the most notable filmmakers of our time about how influential the Star Wars movies have been to their lives.

Star Wars Battlefront Trailer and Playable Demo: The fourth disc will offer a trailer featuring an exciting look at the upcoming Star Wars Battlefront video game from LucasArts, along with a special demo for Xbox users that lets players fight the Battle of Endor as a Rebel or Imperial soldier and drive AT-STs, ride speeder bikes and use different weapons to lead their side to victory. The full version of Star Wars Battlefront will also be released Sept. 21 for the PlayStation 2, Xbox, and PC.

Star Wars: Episode III Making the Game Preview: Video-game players will be able to experience the stunning Jedi action of Episode III themselves in the new Star Wars: Episode III game, due out in Spring 2005 for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox. This special feature shows how game developers at LucasArts worked behind-the-scenes and on the set to create the most authentic Jedi experience ever.

Original Trailers and TV Spots: The original theatrical teaser, launch and re-release trailers for each film, plus TV spots, are featured on the DVD.

Never-Before-Seen Production Gallery: Delve into an unseen corners of the Lucasfilm Archives with exclusive photos from the making of the trilogy, with hundreds of rare behind-the-scene images.

Posters and Print Campaigns: The original releases of the Star Wars films came at a time when international campaigns produced a wealth of intriguing, alternative poster art. Explore a collection of theatrical posters from around the world.

Exclusive DVD-ROM Content: The Star Wars Trilogy DVDs are keys that unlock exclusive content available only through a special DVD-ROM website.