StarWars.Com broke the news today that Star Wars 3D, starting with Star Wars: Episode 1 – The Phantom Menace, will begin hitting theatres on February 10, 2012.
From their official announcement:
Lucasfilm Ltd. and Twentieth Century Fox announced today that the 3D theatrical launch of Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace now has an official release date — February 10, 2012! Set against the thrilling and exotic backdrop of a “galaxy far, far away,” Star Wars is perfectly suited to the immersive 3D theatrical experience, and Episode I delivers some of the Saga’s most stunning and spectacular sequences — from the Naboo invasion to the Tatooine Podraces to the climactic lightsaber battle between Darth Maul and the Jedi.
Supervised by Industrial Light & Magic, the meticulous conversion is being done with utmost respect for the source material, and with a keen eye for both technological considerations and artistic intentions.
No word yet on a release pattern for the rest of the films, though early speculation indicated a yearly pattern. I’m not as convinced of that, though, because this would be worthy of a Summer tentpole release on its own in 3D, not relegated to early February. Though anything is possible.
Like Han said of our heroes in the garbage masher, so too can I say for my wallet, “One thing’s for sure. We’re all gonna get a lot thinner.”