It looks like the theatrical release versions of the three original Star Wars installments will stay in a galaxy far, far away —as DVD goes, anyway.

Appearing at a tribute to Industrial Light & Magic at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood last week, director George Lucas revealed the originals would never appear on DVD. Instead, the special editions with newly minted special effects will make their way to the format.

Some fans expressed their displeasure on their Web sites.

On The Digital Bits, editor Bill Hunt noted that many Star Wars fans were introduced to – and came to love – the series via the comparatively primitive early versions that Lucas now seems to be repudiating.

"Why can't Lucas make both versions available, even if the originals come in movie-only editions?" Hunt wondered in his Feb. 7 post.

And Ain't It Cool News let loose with an expletive-laced diatribe, noting that Lucas is doing a disservice to the technicians who worked on the originals' special effects.

"(Lucas') complete and utter disregard for his own history, the work that earned that special Oscar ... It all means nothing to him," wrote Harry Knowles. "That work, what possible harm is there in giving us that extra disc, making us pay for it? We care! We want it! And I will never buy a DVD that doesn't have it. I suggest you do the same."