Star Wars: The Complete Saga is not scheduled to hit stores before September. But such is the excitement surrounding the release that the makers have decided to give fans a taste of things to come with a Star Wars: The Complete Saga Early Access app which would be released today for the iPad and iPhone. The app will unveil some of the bonus materials to be included in the Blu-ray collection.
This app which is currently being showcased at the Comic-Con International would also include never-before-seen content like matte paintings and concept art of the film franchise. Prop, maquette and costume turnarounds too make their way into the app. Along with this, cast and crew interviews are also said to feature on the app.
Star Wars: The Complete Saga will release on Blu-ray later this year. It would include three different collections consisting of a 9-disc set containing Episodes I to VI of the films and two 3-disc sets containing the prequel trilogy and the original trilogy. Three more discs compiling over 30 hours of deleted and alternate scenes.
One of the deleted scenes is from Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi wherein Luke Skywalker finishes building his new lightsaber and puts it in Artoo’s secret compartment before the moment when C-3PO and R2-D2 arrive at Jabba’s Palace. The scene was apparently edited out because director, George Lucas wanted to surprise the audience with the hidden lightsaber at the scene of the pit of Carkoon.
The Star Wars: The Complete Saga Early Access app is now available for free on the iTunes store in the U.S. only for the iPad. The app would launch globally for other Apple devices on August 2, 2011.