The 3D ‘Star Wars’ Conversions Could End After ‘The Phantom Menace’
When Lucasfilm announced thatStar Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menacewould bereleased in 3D on July 17, 2025, the /Film readers spoke their minds. Here are some gems from the almost 100 comment thread:
Well fans, Lucasfilm might have heard you.
According to a recent interview,Star WarsproducerRick McCallumsuggested ifThe Phantom Menace 3Ddoesn’t live up to box office expectations, they might not release anymoreStar Warsfilms in 3D. We explore the pluses, and minus, of that after the jump.
This information came from a site calledCzech Position(viaFirst Showing) who quoted McCallum as saying the following:
We’re doing 3D versions of all six films, one a year, starting in February of next year. We start with [episode] one and go all the way through six, totally chronological. One a year, if they work. If they don’t, then there will be just one [episode converted to 3D].
Steps up on soapbox
Hey Rick! And yes, I feel like I can call you Rick for all meals I’ve purchased for your family. If that was the case, if you were really only going to release one movie in 3D, why the F*** would you releaseThe Phantom Menace? Oh, I get it, it’s chronologically the first of the series and, a few years ago when this was set in motion, that was the film Lucas decided would be first. But if there was even theslightestinkling that you might stop there and leave five other, much better (in some cases) films not converted, why not start strong withA New Hope? The only reason I was even curious to seeThe Phantom Menacein 3D is because it would tide me over until the original trilogy came out…
Wait a minute, I get it. You’re a genius. By saying this, you’re forcing the audience’s hand. Here’s what you really should have said:
Star Wars fans, we know The Phantom Menace sucks and that you hate it. We also know that you hate 3D but you’d pay to see the entire original trilogy in any format so long as it’s on the big screen. So here’s what we’re going to do. The only way you’ll get to see those movies is if you stuff our pockets for three years seeing s***ty movies. Then, and only then, we will give you what you want.
That would have been more honest. But honesty or true fan appreciation have never really been synonymous withStar Warspost 1997.
Steps off soapbox
In all seriousness, if the film fails, it makes perfect sense to stop re-releasing the movies. It really does. But that doesn’t make it feel any less patronizing.
So the moral conundrum I pose to all of you is this: Do we pay to seeThe Phantom Menace,thenAttack of the Clones, thenRevenge of the Sithjust so we can see the Original Trilogy in 3D? Or do we let Lucasfilm suck a fat one and laugh as they lose millions?
