Will Star Wars movies ever go digital??

[j2thomason]

Now that Disney owns the Star Wars franchise, does anyone have any idea if they will ever sell or rent them digitally?? I am a HUGE Disney fan, but not really a Star Wars fan. Because I am such a Disney nerd, I feel like I need to watch all of the Star Wars movies so I can at least have in idea what they are all about. I tried to look them up online through Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google, etc.....and couldn't find a digital copy anywhere to buy or rent. Why isn't Disney making money off of this option??

 

[GrnMtnMan]

Now that Disney owns the Star Wars franchise, does anyone have any idea if they will ever sell or rent them digitally?? I am a HUGE Disney fan, but not really a Star Wars fan. Because I am such a Disney nerd, I feel like I need to watch all of the Star Wars movies so I can at least have in idea what they are all about. I tried to look them up online through Netflix, iTunes, Amazon Prime, Google, etc.....and couldn't find a digital copy anywhere to buy or rent. Why isn't Disney making money off of this option??

Wild guess here, but I bet it has to do with News Corp./Twentieth Century Fox being involved in the films. Disney seems to have abandoned the Disney Vault/scarcity concept, since you can now get most of the classic movies on disc or itunes whenever you like. Maybe News Corp is holding out for an unusually high cut of the proceeds, so it and Disney have not come to an agreement.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

Wild guess here, but I bet it has to do with News Corp./Twentieth Century Fox being involved in the films. Disney seems to have abandoned the Disney Vault/scarcity concept, since you can now get most of the classic movies on disc or itunes whenever you like. Maybe News Corp is holding out for an unusually high cut of the proceeds, so it and Disney have not come to an agreement.

Indeed...

Also don't discount that maybe Disney is getting advice/yielding to old george on this...in
Exchange for his gravitas on some matters Star Wars...

We know how he likes to repackage and sell yesterday's lunch specials over and over and over again.

 

[Twin Dad]

Wild guess here, but I bet it has to do with News Corp./Twentieth Century Fox being involved in the films. Disney seems to have abandoned the Disney Vault/scarcity concept, since you can now get most of the classic movies on disc or itunes whenever you like. Maybe News Corp is holding out for an unusually high cut of the proceeds, so it and Disney have not come to an agreement.

You're mostly right. Fox owns the distribution rights to Episode IV. Lucasfilm, meaning Disney own the other 5. This is why you don't see digital copies and why there won't be a release of the theatrical versions any time soon. I think Fox losses the rights in 2019 but don't quote me.

OP, your best bet is borrowing a copy from a geek friend or a rental store if you have one close. Last ditch, check a pawn shop.

 

[DanBoris]

You're mostly right. Fox owns the distribution rights to Episode IV. Lucasfilm, meaning Disney own the other 5. This is why you don't see digital copies and why there won't be a release of the theatrical versions any time soon. I think Fox losses the rights in 2019 but don't quote me.

OP, your best bet is borrowing a copy from a geek friend or a rental store if you have one close. Last ditch, check a pawn shop.

Fox owns the distribution rights to Episode IV in perpetuity (forever), and they own the distribution rights to the other 5 until May 2020.

 

[Lee Matthews]

Apart from using existing characters for the Sequel films and spin offs i don't think Disney are going to touch the old movies.

 

[OKW Lover]

You're mostly right. Fox owns the distribution rights to Episode IV. Lucasfilm, meaning Disney own the other 5. This is why you don't see digital copies and why there won't be a release of the theatrical versions any time soon. I think Fox losses the rights in 2019 but don't quote me.

OP, your best bet is borrowing a copy from a geek friend or a rental store if you have one close. Last ditch, check a pawn shop.

Fox owns the distribution rights to Episode IV in perpetuity (forever), and they own the distribution rights to the other 5 until May 2020.

OK, so Fox owns the rights to episode IV. How does that equate to never being released digitally? Couldn't the two parties negotiate an agreement for fox to get a piece of the action?

 

[j2thomason]

OK, so Fox owns the rights to episode IV. How does that equate to never being released digitally? Couldn't the two parties negotiate an agreement for fox to bet a piece of the action?

I agree. I don't get why they aren't capitalizing on digital purchases. I would gladly rent them, but now I'm borrowing them from a friend. They aren't making any money from that.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I don't understand why some movies aren't available in a digital format.

I don't want to fumble with dvds and blurays anymore, I actually want those devices removed from my tv stand.

I'm willing to rent and even buy digital copies of movies, there's got to be a reason for it, but it seems like they are missing an opportunity by not doing this.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I can only guess that the IP owners may be hesitant to release the content in digital to try and limit illegal distribution of the digital copy...

Not that it really matters

 

[jlewisinsyr]

I don't understand why some movies aren't available in a digital format.

I don't want to fumble with dvds and blurays anymore, I actually want those devices removed from my tv stand.

I'm willing to rent and even buy digital copies of movies, there's got to be a reason for it, but it seems like they are missing an opportunity by not doing this.

There are very easy solutions to this if you already have the media. Ask anyone who has a HTPC in their house.

 

[wallrock]

I don't understand why some movies aren't available in a digital format.

I don't want to fumble with dvds and blurays anymore, I actually want those devices removed from my tv stand.

I'm willing to rent and even buy digital copies of movies, there's got to be a reason for it, but it seems like they are missing an opportunity by not doing this.

Ultimately the question boils down to money. The digital age has scared everyone that has media that can be converted (music, books, magazines, etc.) to a digital file because they can't control the distribution. As soon as one copy of a movie, TV show, or song hits the internet there will be countless copies within seconds - for free. The music industry took a hit with this early on with Napster. iTunes helped fix some of that, but some companies are still reluctant. Oddly enough Star Wars is already available digitally courtesy of DVD ripping software. Illegal copies yes, but they're still there. Even Song of the South - something never released on DVD or Blu-Ray - can be picked up with little or no effort.

All media will eventually be pulled into this kicking and screaming. Copyright safeguards will be put in place, they'll get cracked, new ones will develop, get cracked and so on.

 

[skier_pete]

The answer to the original poster is "who knows". As pointed out, Disney doesn't own the distribution rights to them right now - and FOX owns the original, which I'm sure complicates things. Eventually everything will be available digitally. If you choose to only watch things digitally, you are making a choice that you don't want to see things that aren't yet available. (There are lots of things not yet available this way, though mostly older stuff.)

If you want to see Star Wars, either wait patiently, or borrow/rent the DVDs/Blu Rays. Odds are you know someone that owns them.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

I don't know if anyone saw this...but they are planning on releasing the "original movies"...ie the non "special edition" that Lucas claimed were "destroyed" next summer on blu ray as a run up.

Makes sense...and says two things:

1. They're gonna release as relentlessly as Lucas - without all the messy "artists integrity" nonsense about media and format...digital is coming
2. Disney must have acquired the rights to Lucas's basement/ garage in the buyout. Where those "destroyed" films must have been in a shoebox next to his baseball cards.

 

[Twin Dad]

That rumor has been destroyed many times. First, Fox owns the rights. Second, even though George sold Lucasfilm, he still holds some say in the distribution of the original films. since he is the director and producer. Episode III will be coming to 3D for those attending Celebration VII. As for the rerelease of the theatrical editions of the original trilogy, don't believe anything until you hear it from the Mouse himself.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

That rumor has been destroyed many times. First, Fox owns the rights. Second, even though George sold Lucasfilm, he still holds some say in the distribution of the original films. since he is the director and producer. Episode III will be coming to 3D for those attending Celebration VII. As for the rerelease of the theatrical editions of the original trilogy, don't believe anything until you hear it from the Mouse himself.

Fox owns the distribution rights for only star
Wars...if I recall.

Second, Lucas sold all rights to EVERYTHING in exchange for an "adviser" role. Iger wasn't that stupid...it was all or nothing.

Third...

"Who you talking to, Willis?"

I give no credence to rumors...as documented on this board 1000 times.

But this one gets a little...which means I'm entertaining this...it just makes
Too much sense. The entire marketing strategy will be to "heal the wounds"...mark
My words.

Besides...does "distribution rights" from a 1977 movie cover blu ray?

 

[Twin Dad]

Fox owns the distribution rights for only star
Wars...if I recall.

Second, Lucas sold all rights to EVERYTHING in exchange for an "adviser" role. Iger wasn't that stupid...it was all or nothing.

Third...

"Who you talking to, Willis?"

I give no credence to rumors...as documented on this board 1000 times.

But this one gets a little...which means I'm entertaining this...it just makes
Too much sense. The entire marketing strategy will be to "heal the wounds"...mark
My words.

Besides...does "distribution rights" from a 1977 movie cover blu ray?

First, Fox has all six movies until 2020.

Second, he sold his company. He still has some control over the old films as producer.

Third, the theatrical versions were already released on DVD 11 years ago. I own them. Other than Han shooting first and Hayden showing up in ROTJ the special editions are superior to the theatrical versions. I don't get the infatuation with such dated special effects. You want it go to Amazon and get it. If I remember right they didn't sell well and were clearanced out 6 months after they were released.

 

[lockedoutlogic]

First, Fox has all six movies until 2020.

Second, he sold his company. He still has some control over the old films as producer.

Third, the theatrical versions were already released on DVD 11 years ago. I own them. Other than Han shooting first and Hayden showing up in ROTJ the special editions are superior to the theatrical versions. I don't get the infatuation with such dated special effects. You want it go to Amazon and get it. If I remember right they didn't sell well and were clearanced out 6 months after they were released.

Duly noted...however unlike marvel and Comcast...I'm not sure there's angle for fox holding Star Wars hostage...money would benit and they'd be compensated.

I know I read that Lucas signed away all control...it was stated in a prominent article on Iger...I'll try to find it. Disney needed a foolproof guard against Lucas... For obvious reasons.

The special editions were garbage...all the rage in the 90's...now there has been backlash against it and rightly so.
I have the originals as well on DVD...the "lunchbox" edition

 

[Spacedog1975]

The only SE element that I really went in for was adding windows to cloud city. I'm hearing strong rumors that Disney wants to get the original unaltered films on blu-ray before The Force Awakens.

Getting the six films from Fox is a pretty simple cash negotiation. Easier than the Paramount/Marvel deal, probably.

 

[DanBoris]

First, Fox has all six movies until 2020.

Second, he sold his company. He still has some control over the old films as producer.

Third, the theatrical versions were already released on DVD 11 years ago. I own them. Other than Han shooting first and Hayden showing up in ROTJ the special editions are superior to the theatrical versions. I don't get the infatuation with such dated special effects. You want it go to Amazon and get it. If I remember right they didn't sell well and were clearanced out 6 months after they were released.

Fox holds the distribution rights to 5 of the six movies until 2020, they have the rights to Episode 4 in perpetuity.