Star Wars films to be re-released in 3D

Thanks to the wild success of Avatar, George Lucas has been convinced to re-work the Star Wars franchise for audiences in 3D.

According to THR, rumors about interest in the re-releases were correct, but Lucas also wanted to wait until a sufficient number of 3D screens existed to support the project. THR said moviegoers can expect the first released in 2012, and explained a bit about the production timeline:

Part 1, “The Phantom Menace,” would be first out of star-dock in the early months of 2012. After that, each of the films would be released in order at the same time each consecutive year, depending on how well the first re-release does.

Each conversion takes at least a year to complete, with Lucas personally overseeing the process to make sure each one is as perfected as possible. Lucas has said that the “Avatar” experience convinced him that “Star Wars” was ready for the state-of-the-art 3D treatment.

So, are you excited at the prospect of seeing the films again in 3D, or does it feel like another money grab at loyal fans?