It’s only been two weeks since Star Wars announced that its groundbreaking original film will hit IMAX for the first time to celebrate its 50th anniversary next year. Directed by George Lucas and released in 1977, Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope is widely regarded as the film that changed the sci-fi movie world as we know it and launched one of Hollywood’s most influential franchises. To mark the milestone, the film will return to theaters on February 19, 2027, in a newly restored version of the original theatrical cut.
Boasting a Certified Fresh 93% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, Star Wars: A New Hope follows the Rebel Alliance in its fight against the Galactic Empire and its ultimate weapon, the Death Star. After Rebel leader Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) is captured by the Empire, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) comes into possession of the station’s stolen plans and sets out to rescue her. His journey also introduces him to the Force under the guidance of Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi (Alec Guinness).
While fans await A New Hope‘s return, Star Wars has officially announced another way to experience the perfect sci-fi classic. Industrial Light & Magic (ILM), the Lucasfilm division Lucas founded in 1975, is bringing the film to an immersive virtual-reality experience designed to place audiences inside the Star Wars universe. The announcement came during Meta Connect 2026, where ILM unveiled Disney Immersive Cinema by ILM, a new format developed for Meta VR Glasses that blends traditional feature-film storytelling with immersive environmental effects.
‘Star Wars: A New Hope’s Immersive Experience Launches in 2027
This new experience reflects ILM‘s broader exploration of how emerging technology can transform the way audiences engage with stories and the worlds they depict. The studio offered a tease of what to expect via Star Wars‘ official X (formerly Twitter) account:
According to ILM, Star Wars: A New Hope itself will remain unchanged, while Disney Immersive Cinema will add a new dimension to the viewing experience, allowing select moments to extend beyond the screen and into the viewer’s surroundings. This enables audiences to experience familiar scenes from an entirely new perspective. The project joins Marvel Studios’ Avengers: Infinity War as one of the first titles announced.
A New Hope is currently in development for Meta VR Glasses and Meta Quest 3 and 3S, with Meta VR Glasses scheduled to launch in spring 2027 at $1,299.99.
via Collider