'Star Wars' original trilogy returning to theaters
Alamo Drafthouse is bringing the first three "Star Wars" movies to more than 20 cities in August with its "Return of the Trilogy" roadshow program.
The distributor noted that the films — "Episode IV – A New Hope," "Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back" and "Episode VI – Return of the Jedi" — have long been out of release. Most of the showings will screen back-to-back-to-back as a single triple feature.
"It's always been a dream to show the original 'Star Wars' trilogy again — somehow, someway," said Alamo Drafthouse's VP of Special Events Henri Mazza. "Seeing the original trilogy on the big screen for the first time is a real life-altering event and just a supreme amount of fun. When the films became available to book for screenings like these, we jumped at the chance to do something big."
All three of the films will be presented in their 1997 re-release format. Tickets for most markets will go on sale at ReturnOfTheTrilogy.com on May 4 — dubbed "Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You."
Each "Return of the Trilogy" show will feature specially curated video content before and between films, contests and props.
The first "Star Wars" was written and directed by George Lucas and starred Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Cushing and Alec Guinness. It was released in 1977 and grossed $775 million, displacing "Jaws" as the highest grosser of all time until "ET — the Extraterrestrial" was released five years later.
Here are the shows scheduled so far:
August 6 – San Francisco, CA / The Warfield
August 6 – Kansas City, MO / The Midland Theatre
August 6 – Washington, D.C. / Warner Theatre
August 6 – Los Angeles, CA / The Theatre at the Ace Hotel
August 6 – New York, NY / The Town Hall
August 6 – Miami, FL / Olympia Theatre
August 6 – San Antonio, TX Majestic Theatre
August 7 – New York, NY / Kings Theatre
August 7 – Dallas, TX / Majestic Theatre
August 11 – Austin, TX / The Long Center for the Performing Arts (A New Hope)
August 12 – Austin, TX / The Long Center for the Performing Arts (The Empire Strikes Back)
August 13 – Austin, TX / The Long Center for the Performing Arts (Return of the Jedi)
August 13 – Philadelphia, PA / The Keswick Theatre
August 13 – Louisville, KY / Brown Theatre
August 20 – Oakland, CA / Paramount Theatre
August 27 – Boston, MA / The Boston Opera House
Date TBD – Houston, TX / Venue TBD
Date TBD – Denver, CO / Venue TBD
