CLASSIC IMAGE: 'IT'S TOO LATE!'

As Han Solo generates continued cover fire, knowing that the Death Star hangar bay will soon be full of Imperial troops if they don't escape soon, Princess Leia tries to snap Luke Skywalker out of his violence with the loss of Ben Kenobi, in this great rare-ish rehearsal image from the original Star Wars.

CLASSIC IMAGE: INTO THE CELL BAY!

"This is not gonna work!"

Now disguised as Imperial Stormtroopers, Luke's plan to rescue Princess Leia from the Death Star Cell Bay begins, much to the weary chagrin of Han Solo, in a classic scene of humour from the original Star Wars.

Some of the dialogue scenes linked to the Cell Block would be improvised or enhanced by Hamill and Ford during May 1976 filming.

CLASSIC IMAGE: TECHNOLOGICAL TERROR!

Under secret construction at an unknown location, its parts assembled by slave labour across the galaxy via numerous dummy corporations and sub-sub contractors, the mighty Death Star battle station may be a long time before reaching planet-killing completion, but progress nonetheless remains as swift as can be, especially with the Empire's legion of tireless droid bots hard at work across its surface...

A memorable finale scene to the slow-paced but intriguing first season of Andor. 

CLASSIC ART: 'STAR WARS' BEGINS...

The classic Hildebrandt Brothers poster that debuted in the UK at the end of 1977/early 1978.

As a rare and pristine condition British release print of the original 1977 version of Star Wars makes for a special screening (originally housed by Rank back in 1979, and later donated), for the first time in decades in the UK, launching this year's BFI Film on Film festival in London (12th to 15th June, 2025), here's a look back to that time when George Lucas's (at first one-off) film launched across the world in 1977 and 1978, promoted via these gorgeous adventure-fuelled posters that soon captured our hearts, minds and imaginations like never before...

Early US teaser poster with the original SW logo before the 'W' was changed.

US teaser poster.

American release poster.

Tom Jung's early poster, at first primarily used for the US, then appearing in various merchandising.

Tom Jung's version of the Hildebrandt original.

Some international posters mixed the Tom Jung art with the Hildebrandts.

Three Japanese posters from 1977/78.

Photo montage mixed with the Hildebrandt art.

Other Japanese rarities.

Italian art my Michelangelo Papuzza.

The 'Dirty Dozen' poster art for the UK and US from 1978, by Tom Chantrell.

Australian 'Daybill' poster. 

Hong Kong release poster - 1978.

ROGUE ONE: UNLOCKING THE MYSTERIES OF THE ORIGINAL GARETH EDWARDS VISION!

Darth Vader (likely Spencer Wilding) monitors a planet (presumably Scarif) in a deleted scene set on the Death Star, from the original version of Rogue One. A special image released by Hal Hickel/ ILM.

Like a mystery wrapped in an enigma, the original filmed version of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, directed by Brit talent Gareth Edwards, will surely never be released as a historical separate cut in any kind of format, nor is it likely that we ever see any of its many, many deleted/alternate scenes (as was the case with the later revamped film's 2017 home media release and its frustrating lack of major special features content). At least not with the franchise under the ownership of Disney for the foreseeable future. And very little about the first cut, post 2017, has been talked about by cast and crew, either- most likely afraid of breaching Disney's strict, harsh-action-will-be-taken-if-leaked Non Disclosure Agreement contracts.

Thankfully, over the years, lots of information and photos from this intriguing original version of Rogue have filtered through magazines, merchandise and online, however, and Star Wars Aficionado has managed to piece together as much as we can on about that intriguing work and footage originally filmed for the hugely popular first 'Anthology' movie that has now disappeared into Star Wars behind the scenes lore and consigned to posthumous 'What if? thoughts by excited fans. Deleted but abandoned moments of scene-setting, action and character (plus further referencing to the original Star Wars of 1977) that look just as exciting and memorable as any seen with the final version of the movie, as well as any subsequent modern film in the saga under Disney's ownership and creative control... 

Tony Gilroy Won't Do a Rogue One Snyder Cut: 'The Best Possible Version' - IGN

Enjoy this building collection of links, and welcome to the first, original vision that was Rogue One: A Star Wars Story...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: FIGHTING DIRTY!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: THE UNSEEN FOOTAGE

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: THE REBELS OF YAVIN IV - ALTERNATE/DELETED SCENES

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: JYN's SOLACE

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: INTO THE UNKNOWN...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: THE TRUTH ABOUT 'LIANA HALLIK'!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: ON LONG PATROL!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: ON THE PILGRIM TRAIL...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: A FIRE GONE FROM THE UNIVERSE...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: PRISONERS OF WAR!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: BLIND SPIRIT!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: HUMAN/DROID RELATIONS!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: IN THE DOMAIN OF SAW GERRERA! (DELETED SCENES) 

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: REVOLUTION'S END?

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: DARTH VADER'S LOST SCENES...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: ON THE TRAIL OF A PRINCESS?

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: THE MAN WITH THE PLANS!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: KRENNIC'S LOST SCENES...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: CONCERNING THE DEATH STAR...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: A RESURRECTION OF EVIL!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: ENEMY FRIENDLIES?

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: THE RETURN OF BAIL ORGANA!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: AERIAL CAMERAWORK!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: STORMIN' STORMTROOPERS!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: TROPICAL SEARCH PROCEDURES!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: WATCHERS ON THE WATER!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: ENTERING THE VAULT - THE UNUSED FOOTAGE

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: INTO THE VAULT!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: DECIPHERING THE ORIGINAL SCARIF LAND BATTLE...

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: UP CLOSE AND BRUTAL!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: OUT FROM THE WRECKAGE!

STAR WARS AFICIONADO WEBSITE: ROGUE ONE: WHEN A MURDERER'S WORK IS NEVER DONE...

Rogue One deleted scene details: EW's complete rundown | EW.com

Should any potential contributors have any further information/stills on deleted/alternate scenes for this movie, please get in touch. We'd love to hear from you!

ROGUE ONE: TARGET: JEDHA!

Within the overview bridge of the Death Star space station, its key officers prepare to unleash deadly firepower against the planet Jedha's singular ancient city, in a test of destruction that would be a highlight sequence from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

'ATTACK' AT 20: THE SECRET WEAPON! (DEATH STAR)

The tide of war is no longer in the good fortune of a seemingly surprised Count Dooku and the Geonosians as their forces retreat from the experience and tactics of the surviving Jedi and thousands of accompanying Clone Troopers. As the slimy Poggle the Lesser orders full retreat into the planet's deep catacombs, Count Dooku also makes departure preparations, but not before being given the top secret plans to the new battle station that will be secretly built by the Separatists, then later 'acquired' for the Galactic Empire: the Death Star!

A hive of activity in the war room.

Dooku is seemingly surprised by the huge number of Republic forces on Geonosis.

Poggle the Lesser entrusts the secret plans to Count Dooku...

... for relaying on to the even safer hands of Dooku's 'Master'.

'STAR WARS' AT 45: TORPEDOS AWAY!

Abandoning his X-wing fighter's computer-controlled targeting computer and acting purely on his instincts and the power of the Force within him, Luke successfully launches his proton torpedos into the Death Star thermal exhaust under port, setting off a chain reaction stellar explosion of the dreaded space station. Its destruction proves a savage blow for the Empire, of which galactic freedom has been won by the Rebel Alliance. Luke and his surviving fighter pilot colleagues, plus the to-the-rescue Millennium Falcon, head back to Yavin IV to celebrate their incredible victory... 

BEHIND THE SCENES

Joe Johnston storyboard of the classic moment.

Steve Gawley at work on the Thermal Exhaust Port surface model.

The highly detailed model with previous unsuccessful rebel torpedo impact adjacent to the entry port.

An ILM hand at work!

Paul Huston and Joe Johnston add details work to the model.

On screen, Luke's skill in the Force pays off as the Death Star is destroyed!

A spectacular explosion filmed by ILM at high speed and slowed down in post production for more on-screen impact.

'STAR WARS' AT 45: INTO THE TRENCH!

"The exhaust port is marked and locked in."

With Gold Squadron's obliteration by enemy forces, it's turn for the first of Red flight's attack runs on the Death Star trench, undertaken by the courageous Red Leader and his wingmen. Despite their skills, and an incredible near miss at their thermal exhaust port target, the trio of Rebel heroes are soon dispatched by the return of Darth Vader and his equally lethal wingmen.

The X-wings begin their trench run.

Red Leader commands the first X-wing trench run, but he and his wingmen are also ultimately destroyed by Darth Vader and his pilots. Storyboards by Joe Johnston.

An X-wing is destroyed.

Death Star surface and trench conceptual art by Joe Johnston.

Planning the trench sequence with small X-wings on poles.

Two trench images taken by Dennis Muren,

Preparing to film another sequence.

Another view of the trench, this one leading to... Lorne Peterson!

Grant McCune with one of the model Imperial cannons. Image via the Alex Fish Collection.

One of the Death Star trench laser cannon emplacements.

Preparing to film the first part of the trench run entry sequence.

Capturing natural light pyrotechnics outside the ILM base at Van Nuys with a camera mounted van to capture the speed of the fighter attack.