In the 1977 version, Han Solo shoots the bounty hunter Greedo in the Mos Eisley cantina without hesitation to save his own life, establishing him as a ruthless anti-hero. In 1997, the scene was digitally altered so Greedo shoots first and misses at point-blank range, softening Han's character.
Because Lucasfilm and Disney have prioritized the updated versions, finding the unaltered 1977 cut in high quality is notoriously difficult. However, several official and unofficial avenues exist. Official Releases Star Wars -1977 Original Version-
A team of fans located, scanned, and cleaned up original 35mm theatrical technicolor prints from 1977. This project offers the closest possible representation of what audiences actually saw on opening night in theaters, complete with natural film grain and the original color timing. In the 1977 version, Han Solo shoots the
When Disney acquired Lucasfilm in 2012 for $4.05 billion, fans hoped the 1977 version would finally be restored and released. However, Disney has honored Lucas's wishes, keeping the altered 4K Special Edition transfers as the official canon versions on streaming and physical media. 4. The Fan-Led Preservation Movement However, several official and unofficial avenues exist