Following February’s moderately successful 3D re-release of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, Lucasfilm have announced 2013 release dates for the rest of the oft-besmirched prequel trilogy.
Attack of the Clones will roll out on September 20, with Revenge of the Sith hitting theatres shortly after on October 11. The double bill of releases disregards Lucasfilm’s original plans to launch each 3D conversion annually on the same date, though if this means we don’t have to wait until 2015 to see the original trilogy back on cinema screens that’s fine by me. Even if it is in 3D.
The Phantom Menace grossed a respectable $43 million domestically at the box office; not enough to consider it a runaway hit (though that’s probably down to the source material) but enough for Fox to greenlight the next two episodes.
Whether A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back or Return of the Jedi find their way to screens will undoubtedly rest on the takings of the next two – though releasing them essentially back to back might hinder their success, with cinema ticket prices driving ever-higher.
Still, it’s likely the original Star Wars trilogy back on the silver screen would draw many more bums to seats than the prequels. Chances are, George Lucas knows that so even if the next two flop (which they shouldn’t do as they’re better films than Phantom Menace) we’ll inevitably see them in cinemas again. Does he know well enough to give us the original theatrical cuts? Probably not, but we can always dream.
Look out for Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith next year.
Are you done with Star Wars? Will you be racing to see the saga back on screen or are you just waiting for the original trilogy?
Let us know in the comments below!
