Oh yes, Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope (1977), Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Episode V – Return of the Jedi (1983), the original trilogy that kicked off the Star Wars universe, is returning to our big screens here at Showcase Cinemas. 

If you have seen the three movies on the BIG screen before, you know what a cinematic experience it is, and if you haven’t, we can confidently tell you YOU’RE IN FOR A HUGE TREAT! 

Let’s go back in time to an opening credit crawl that shook cinema to its core; well it all started with a young man with a vision.

Writer and director George Lucas had dreamt of an epic space opera where a group of freedom fighters, the Rebel Alliance, face off against the evil Galactic Empire, in the vein of the classic Flash Gordon series he had grown up enjoying – both reading and watching on television. After the release of his cinematic debut THX 1138 and the box-office and Oscar nominated success of American Graffiti (1973), Lucas set about making his dreams a reality. 

Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), and Harrison Ford - once Lucas’s carpenter – (Han Solo) travelled with Lucas from America to begin filming at Elstree Studios in Borehamwood, England.

With England as the base for the saga, Lucas cast the cream of the English film and theatre world, including Peter Cushing as the Commander of the Death Star, Grand Moff Tarkin and Alec Guinness as Ben Obi-Wan Kenobi, along with Anthony Daniels, Kenny Baker, Peter Mayhew and David Prowse as Lord Darth Vader. The decision was taken to replace Prowse’s Bristol tones with James Earl Jones’ now iconic voice.

Filming was beset with issues, with some of the British crew and the studio not completely buying into Lucas’s vision. Crucially he had a core team who did and with a huge dose of self-belief, Lucas made a deal of foregoing payment for extra funds and in return he would hold on to all sequel and merchandise rights. It probably goes on record as one of the most astute pieces of business in movie history, because when Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope was released in the summer of 1977, box-office records were smashed, thus creating a legion of fans worldwide. 

This loyal fan base returned to watch the movie time and time again and created a swell of passion for more stories in the Star Wars universe. Lucas gave the world what it wanted and completed his planned saga with Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back and Episode V – Return of the Jedi.

The world he and his team created, with John Williams’ instantly recognisable theme, continues to give joy to generation after generation and we are so excited to welcome all three movies back to Showcase Cinemas for the greatest movie experience ever.

Tickets are available now for all 3 movies, so don't wait, and purchase yours today!