In response to overwhelming demand from STAR WARS fans, Lucasfilm Ltd. and 20th Century Fox Home Ent. will unveil individual two-disc DVD sets of STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE, EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI. Making these DVDs truly special is the inclusion, as special bonus material, of the original versions of the movies as seen in theaters in 1977, 1980 and 1983, respectively.
Paired with the digitally restored and re-mastered movies, these versions will be available on DVD for a very limited time beginning Sept. 12, 2006, (international release dates will follow on or about the same day). On Dec. 31, the original movies will be returned to the Lucasfilm Archives. Also included on each two-disc DVD set is commentary by George Lucas and key cast and crewmembers.
"Over the years, a truly countless number of fans have told us that they would love to see and own the original versions that they remember experiencing in theaters," said Jim Ward, president of LucasArts and svp 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.
The original versions of the STAR WARS Trilogy movies feature Dolby 2.0 Surround sound, while the digitally restored films are presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround. All three films, both in their original and restored versions, are closed-captioned and subtitled in English, French and Spanish in the U.S. International sound and subtitling specifications vary by territory.
Also on Sept. 12, LucasArts and TT Games will release LEGO STAR WARS II: THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY, the sequel to one of the best-selling videogames of 2005.
LEGO STAR WARS II: THE ORIGINAL TRILOGY combines the classic story of STAR WARS with the endless customization of LEGO that puts a comical twist on the STAR WARS universe. Players can "build and battle" their way through the galaxy, reliving (and sometimes reinventing) favorite moments from the STAR WARS Trilogy.
The epic story, characters and action are all there, and for the first time players can build and ride their own STAR WARS vehicles, then get on and off of them to explore the interactive galaxy as envisioned by LEGO. True to the LEGO experience, players can even customize their own STAR WARS characters.
Published by LucasArts and created by TT Games, LEGO STAR WARS II is slated for release across eight platforms: the Xbox 360; the Xbox; the PlayStation 2; Sony PSP; Microsoft Windows; Nintendo GameCube; Nintendo DS; and Nintendo Game Boy Advance.
"STAR WARS remains incredibly popular around the world, and Sept. 12 brings even more excitement," said Tom Warner, senior director of marketing for Lucasfilm Ltd. "Fans love the nostalgia of their first STAR WARS experience but are also eager to see new, original entertainment from Lucasfilm, and this fall we're bringing them both."
Debuting day-and-date with the DVDs and game are new lines of licensed STAR WARS merchandise and toys. The line will include limited edition George Lucas in Stormtrooper attire action figure.
Lucasfilm Ltd. is one of the world's leading film and entertainment companies. Founded by George Lucas in 1971, it is a privately held, fully integrated entertainment company. In addition to its motion picture and television productions, the company's global businesses include Industrial Light & Magic and Skywalker Sound; LucasArts Ent.; Lucas Licensing; Lucasfilm Animation; and Lucas Online.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Ent. Llc. is a subsidiary of 20th Century Fox Film Corp., a News Corp. company.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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