Young people today have likely never heard of this debate. But when the Star Wars movies were digitally edited and then re-released in theatres in 1997, the updated special effects were accompanied by a hugely controversial move; digitally editing the confrontation between Han Solo and the hapless bounty hunter Greedo in the Mos Eisley cantina to make Greedo shoot first, but somehow mysteriously miss his target from four feet away. In the original 1977 film, Han shot first and without warning, cementing his status as a bad boy and potentially dangerous character very different from the innocent and clean-cut farm boy Luke Skywalker. Of course, that makes his later conversion to the Rebel cause all the more satisfying. Angry fans were quick to denounce the move, many of them then going on to argue it foreshadowed the problems with the Prequel Trilogy that followed. At the same time, many fans were quick to defend the change, or at least to argue that it didn’t detract overall from the dramatic enhancement to the film’s special effects caused by the digital editing (most notably during the Battle of Yavin and Death Star trench run.)

Fortunately, on February 19, 2027, Disney and Lucasfilm will celebrate the 50th anniversary of Star Wars through a theatrical release of the original 1977 cut of the film, including the scene where Han Solo shoots first. For many fans, that might be the first time they have ever seen the film presented in this way. Enjoy!