History GeorgeLucasAlteredVersion / StarWars

* For the Blu-Ray version, clone dialogue is added when Commander Cody and his clone troopers arrive on Utapau and attack General Grievous' droid army.
* On Kashyyyk, several buildings are given moss and rust on the Blu-ray version to make them look significantly more aged.

The IMAX, DVD and Blu-Ray releases make several changes to the movie:
* The IMAX release of the film cut out numerous scenes in order to fit in the two hour time limit for IMAX movies:
** The scene where the Jedi Council meets with Palpatine after the first assassination attempt.
** The part with Obi-Wan in the Jedi Archives.
** The scene where Anakin complains about Obi-Wan's mentorship skills to Padmé.
** Padmé and Anakin meeting with Queen Jamillia on Naboo, the meadow picnic scene and Anakin riding on a shaak.
** Dooku speaking with Obi-Wan while Obi-Wan is being held prisoner on Geonosis.
** Anakin and Obi-Wan's initial meeting with Padmé.
** Also, Bail Organa's lines are all removed.
** And finally, due to the limited size of IMAX platters, the closing credits are played in a slideshow format rather than the traditional upward scroll.

* During their duel on Kamino, a shot of Jango Fett headbutting Obi-Wan is removed from the UK version of the DVD. This was also cut from the theatrical release in order to obtain a PG rating from the BBFC. The US DVD and Blu-ray reinstates it.

* On the Blu-ray, during the chase on Coruscant, when Anakin and Obi-Wan pass through the power couplings, several shots are rearranged.
* On the Blu-ray, during Anakin's nightmare scene, a voiceover of his mother Shmi is added, saying "Anakin, help me!"
* On the Blu-ray, after Yoda saves Obi-Wan and Anakin from Count Dooku's falling pillar, the reaction shots of Yoda and then Anakin and Obi-Wan are moved to before the shots of Dooku escaping on his ship and Padmé Amidala and the clone troopers arriving and firing at him (this creates a noticeable irregularity in background music).

Both the DVD and Blu-Ray releases made some changes to the film:
* The puppet Yoda was replaced with a CGI Yoda in all of his scenes in the Blu-ray release. This was because Lucas had always intended Yoda to be fully CGI in the film, but early attempts at it were unsatisfactory, forcing them to use the puppet.
* The DVD and Blu-Ray extends the podrace sequence with new footage, while also removing a shot of Watto cheering "Sebulba!"
** An effects error causing Fode and Beed's hand to pass through their vest was fixed.
** Right after Jabba the Hutt's introduction before the podrace, a new voice is heard from a spectator when the camera is focused on the crowd.

* The Blu-Ray alters the Vote of No Confidence scene to remove the "Vote now!" chants from the crowd, leaving a general uproar in its place.
* Qui-Gon and Obi-Wan's Force speed effect in the opening (when they escape the Droidekas) was redone to look more realistic. A close-up shot of Nute Gunray and Rune Haako watching a viewscreen showing the Jedi escaping was replaced for a wide shot with a new effect for the screen itself.

* There are additional shots showing two droids fighting, a cameo of Dash Rendar's ''Outrider'', and a Jawa getting thrown off of its Ronto mount.

There are fan edits that aims at reworking some of the movies (the Original Trilogy in particular) to render them as close as possible as they were released originally, more details can be found [[FanEdit here]].

Creator/GeorgeLucas is infamous for having repeatedly altered his ''Franchise/StarWars'' films after release. As a result, there are a number of different cuts of the six original films, with the Original Trilogy being affected the most. In general, there are numerous tiny changes, with audio and dialogue being tweaked, and visual effects being altered. A comprehensive list can be found [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_Wars_re-releases here]]. Despite the critical tone taken here and implied by the title, it must be mentioned that these Special Editions were commercially successful and given their sales on Home Video on multiple formats, including Blu-Ray which came out when the extent of these changes attained mainstream knowledge, they have succeeded in Lucas' aim of bringing new audiences to the franchise for whom these Special Editions are the true ''Star Wars''. Not to mention that a few changes were well received.

The largest and most noticeable changes are listed below.

Creator/GeorgeLucas is infamous for having repeatedly altered his ''Franchise/StarWars'' films after release. As a result, there are a number of different cuts of the six original films, with the Original Trilogy being affected the most. In general, there are numerous tiny changes, with audio and dialogue being tweaked, and visual effects being altered. A comprehensive list can be found [[http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/List_of_changes_in_Star_Wars_re-releases here]]. Despite the critical tone taken here and implied by the title, it must be mentioned that these Special Editions were commercially successful and given their sales on Home Video on multiple formats, including Blu-Ray which came out when the extent of these changes attained mainstream knowledge, they have succeeded in Lucas' aim of bringing new audiences to the franchise for whom these Special Editions are the true ''Star Wars''.

* The music playing over the celebration scenes on Endor leading into the end credits is replaced, changing a tribal Ewok chant into a [[Administrivia/TropesAreTools far more uplifting piece that accurately reflects the sense of elation the victory over the Empire would bring]].

* Before Vader throws the Emperor down the pit, he shouts a BigNo, which is taken from the infamous scene in ''Film/RevengeOfTheSith''.

* The explosion of Alderaan is digitally redone, including a more realistic Praxis effect ring.

* The well-known shot of a stormtrooper bumping his head on the door is embraced, with an audible bumping sound added.

* The title "EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE" is added to the beginning of the opening title crawl to match the opening title crawl of ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''. The film until then known only as ''Star Wars'' is thus given the {{retronym}} ''Film/ANewHope''. It appears that every version of the film released to home video in every medium (including long-defunct also-rans to VHS in TheEighties) includes this change, except of course for the "original theatrical release" extras version from the 2004 DVD.

* The title "EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE" is added to the beginning of the opening title crawl to match the opening title crawl of ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''. The film until then known only as ''Star Wars'' is thus given the {{retronym}} ''Film/ANewHope''.

* In what is likely the second most infamous example of this trope (after "Han Shot First"), Anakin Skywalker's original actor Sebastian Shaw is replaced as a Force ghost by Anakin's actor from the prequels, Creator/HaydenChristiansen.

* Shots of celebrations on Naboo, Bespin, Tatooine, and Coruscant are added to the ending.

* The puppet Yoda was replaced with a CGI Yoda in the Blu-ray release. This was because Lucas had always intended Yoda to be fully CGI in the film, but early attempts at it were unsatisfactory, forcing them to use the puppet.

* Jason Wingreen as Boba Fett is redubbed by Temuera Morrison, who plays his genetic source Jango Fett in ''Film/AttackofTheClones''. His ship, ''Slave I'', is also altered to sound like it does in that film.

* In what is likely the second most infamous example of this trope (after "Han Shot First"), Anakin Skywalker's original actor Sebastian Shaw is replaced as a Force ghost by Anakin's actor from the prequels, Hayden Christiansen.

* When R2 is shot on Endor, more of his hidden tools seen in the prequels appear as he malfunctions.

* The music playing over the celebration scenes on Endor leading into the end credits is replaced, changing a tribal Ewok chant into a [[TropesAreNotBad far more uplifting piece that accurately reflects the sense of elation the victory over the Empire would bring]].

* The title "EPISODE IV: A NEW HOPE" is added to the beginning of the opening title crawl to match the opening title crawl of ''Film/TheEmpireStrikesBack''. The film until then known only as ''Star Wars'' is thus given the {{retronym}} ''A New Hope''.

* A DeletedScene is added with Jabba the Hutt confronting Han in the launch bay. The original human actor has been digitally replaced with the slug we know and love, and his lines have been translated into Huttese. Also, Boba Fett appears in the background as part of Jabba's entourage. This also required a slightly out of character bit where Han steps on Jabba’s tail, as Harrison Ford walking around the original human Jabba was now physically impossible.

* There is a digital shot of the ''Millenium Falcon'' flying below Yavin towards Yavin 4.

* Ben Kenobi's scream to frighten off the Tusken Raiders is made much more high-pitched to sound like a Krayt Dragon.

* The CGI used on Jabba the Hutt is redone to bring it up to the quality of his appearance in ''The Phantom Menace''.

* Oddly, when Luke jumps off the platform of his own free will, he is altered to scream when he falls. Even stranger, the scream is taken from the Emperor's death in ''Return of the Jedi''.

* Jason Wingreen as Boba Fett is redubbed by Temuera Morrison, who plays his genetic source Jango Fett in ''Attack of the Clones''. His ship, ''Slave I'', is also altered to sound like it does in that film.

* Only the left half of the Star Destroyer bridge set was constructed, meaning that shots taking place on the right side had to be mirrored. At the end of the film, when Vader asks if the ''Millennium Falcon's'' hyperdrive has been deactivated, Piett's rank insignia is on the wrong side of his uniform. This is fixed in the DVD release.

* The original Max Rebo Band musical number "Lapti Nek" is replaced with a new one, "Jedi Rocks," which is much longer and has many new shots of CG aliens.

* A CG herd of Banthas appears on the way to the Pit of Carkoon.

* Shots of celebrations on Endor, Bespin, Tatooine, and Corsucant are added to the ending.
* The music playing over the celebration scenes on Endor leading into the end credits is replaced, changing a tribal Ewok chant into a [[TropesAreNotBad far more uplifting piece that accurately reflects the sense of elation the victory over the Empire would bring.]]

* Among other changes to his facial features, Vader's eyebrows have been removed, to reflect how they were burned off in ''Revenge of the Sith''. His eyes were also edited to look more like Creator/HaydenChristensen's.

* In what is likely the second most infamous example of this trope (after "Han Shot First"), Anakin Skywalker's original actor Sebastian Shaw is replaced as a force ghost by Anakin's actor from the prequels, Hayden Christiansen.

* The DVD and Blu-Ray extends the podrace sequence with new footage, while also removing a shot of Watto cheering "Sebulba!".

** The scene where Anakin complains about Obi-Wan's mentorship skills to Padme.
** Padme and Anakin meeting with Queen Jamillia on Naboo, the meadow picnic scene and Anakin riding on a shaak.

** Anakin and Obi-Wan's initial meeting with Padme.

** And finally, due to the limited size of IMAX platters. The closing credits are played in a slide-show format rather than the traditional upward scroll.
* Several speeders were removed from a shot during the Bounty Hunter pursuit scene.

* During their duel on Kamino, a shot of Jango Fett headbutting Obi-Wan is removed from the UK version of the DVD. This was also cut from the theatrical release in order to obtain a PG rating from the BBFC. The US DVD and blu-ray reinstates it.

* On the Blu-ray, during Anakin's nightmare scene, a voiceover of his mother Shmi is added, saying "Anakin, help me!".

* On Kashyyyk, several buildings are given moss and rust on the Blu-Ray version to make them look significantly more aged.
* When changing scenes from Obi-Wan in Padme's spaceship to a burned Anakin on Mustafar, the original wipe was altered to a straight cut for the DVD version. The wipe was however restored for the Blu-Ray release.
* The DVD has a different wipe after Darth Vader's BigNo, which was also slightly shortened. The Blu-Ray keeps this change.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': Season 2 premiere [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsTheSiegeOfLothal "The Siege of Lothal"]] ends on a scene where Darth Vader makes a report to the Emperor. In the original episode, Palpatine is voiced by Creator/SamWitwer, in a RoleReprise from the ''[[VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed Force Unleashed]]'' video game series. However, the version of the episode available on Amazon Video recently replaced Witwer with Creator/IanMcDiarmid, the Emperor's usual actor who had also reprised the role in Palpatine's further appearances on the series in late season 4.

* ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsRebels'': Season 2 premiere [[Recap/StarWarsRebelsTheSiegeOfLothal "The Siege of Lothal"]] ends on a scene where Darth Vader makes a report to the Emperor. In the original episode, Palpatine is voiced by Creator/SamWitwer, in a RoleReprise from the ''[[VideoGame/TheForceUnleashed Force Unleashed]]'' video game series. However, the version of the episode available for viewing on Disney's own streaming service Creator/DisneyPlus, which launched in 2019, replaces Witwer with Creator/IanMcDiarmid, the Emperor's usual actor who had also reprised the role in Palpatine's further appearances on the series in late season 4.

* Greedo now shouts "Maclunkey!" (allegedly Huttese for "This will be the end of you!") before Han kills him. According to Disney, this change was done by George Lucas shortly before he sold Lucasfilm. It's possible it was a planned edit for the Blu-ray release that was discarded in the editing process.

* Greedo now shouts "Maclunkey!" (allegedly Huttese for "This will be the end of you!") before Han kills him. According to Disney, this change was done by George Lucas shortly before he sold Lucasfilm.

* Greedo now shouts something in Rodian before Han kills him. According to Disney, this change was done by George Lucas shortly before he sold Lucasfilm.

!!2019 Disney+ Release
* Greedo now shouts something in Rodian before Han kills him. According to Disney, this change was done by George Lucas shortly before he sold Lucasfilm.

* Boba Fett is shown flirting with one of the dancers.

* A DeletedScene is added with Jabba the Hutt confronting Han in the launch bay. The original human actor has been digitally replaced with the slug we know and love, and his lines have been translated into Huttese. Also, Boba Fett appears in the background as part of Jabba's entourage.

[[folder:''A New Hope'']]