-Newsletter est. 4/15/97- -Website est. 12/15/97- Site created 12/15/97.		page updated: 3/28/07 Rumor Mill (Archived Posts 11/6/06 - 8/1/05) Back to Current Posts 11/6/06 Our industry sources have checked in once again with a list of tentative street dates for upcoming titles. Keep in mind that all are unofficial until confirmed by the studios: 1/9 - Crank (Lionsgate) 1/16 - Employee of the Month (Lionsgate) 1/23 - Flyboys (MGM), School for Scoundrels (The Weinstein Company), Saw III (Lionsgate) January (TBA) - Infamous (Warner), Facing the Giants (Columbia), Gridiron Gang (Columbia), The Guardian (Disney), Hollywoodland (Universal/Focus) Stay tuned... 10/5/06 Our industry sources have checked in this afternoon to tell us that they expect Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to announce tomorrow the release of its first 3 titles on 50GB dual-layered BD-ROM media. Two of the titles are actually already announced, though it wasn't known that they would be 50GB titles. The first is Click on 10/10 (less than one week from now). This makes Click the first 50GB title that will be available. Black Hawk Down will follow on 11/14, also a 50GB title, as we expected. Finally, we've received word that the studio's Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, which was recently announced for release on 12/12, will also be a 50GB dual-layered title. Interestingly, we're told that both Click and Talladega Nights will feature extensive extras in full 1080p high-definition. In addition, we're told that Black Hawk Down will be Sony's first Blu-ray Disc release to feature something called Blu-Wizard - likely an interactive enhancement technology. We expect the full announcement to be made tomorrow, so we should know more then. Be sure to watch The Bits for all the official details. Stay tuned... 9/29/06 Our industry and retail sources have checked in with still more street dates for upcoming DVD releases (as well as further confirmation of dates we've reported previously)... Universal - Idlewild (12/5), Jet Li's Fearless (12/19), The Black Dahlia (12/26) Sony - All the King's Men (12/19) Lionsgate - The Descent (12/26) Warner Bros - Lady in the Water (12/19), The Wicker Man (12/19) 20th Century Fox - My Super Ex-Girlfriend (12/19), Little Miss Sunshine (12/19) Paramount - Barnyard (12/12) Also tentatively due in December (street date TBA) are World Trade Center (Paramount), Jackass: Number Two (Paramount), Step Up (Touchstone/Buena Vista) and Invincible (2006 - Disney/Buena Vista). Stay tuned... 9/20/06 Our industry and retail sources are telling us to expect the following DVD street dates to be made official in the next few weeks... Universal - Idlewild (12/5), Miami Vice (12/12), The Black Dahlia (12/26) Sony - Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (12/12) Warner Bros - Beerfest (12/5), Lady in the Water (12/19), The Wicker Man (12/19) New Line - How to Eat Fried Worms (12/5) 20th Century Fox - Little Miss Sunshine (12/19) Also tentatively due in December (street date TBA) are The Devil Wears Prada (Fox), My Super Ex-Girlfriend (Fox) and Material Girls (MGM via Fox). And on the high-def end today, our sources are telling us to expect Sony Picture Home Entertainment to release more than the already anticipated two titles on 50 GB BD-ROM media before the end of 2006. Speculation as to which titles to expect has included such films as The Guns of Navarone, The Bridge on the River Kwai, Lawrence of Arabia and Black Hawk Down, based on previous studio press comments. Watch for official announcements soon. On a related note, 20th Century Fox has already announced the 50GB Blu-ray release of Ridley Scott's Kingdom of Heaven: Director's Cut (due 11/14). We're told by sources that additional 50GB titles are expected to be announced by Fox for release before the end of the year, possibly including ID4: Independence Day and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Additionally, we're being told to expect at least one other studio to release titles on 50GB BD-ROM media before the end of the year. Stay tuned... 8/28/06 We've finally gotten additional confirmation on the expected street date for Warner's Superman Returns DVD. Our sources are sticking with the original 11/28 date we posted last month. So watch for both DVD, HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc versions to be released on that date. Meanwhile, sources are also telling us to expect the following titles/street dates: Monster House (10/24 - Sony), Wordplay (11/7 - The Weinstein Company/Genius), Accepted (11/14 - Universal), Strangers with Candy (11/14 - Paramount), Scoop (11/21 - Focus/Universal), You, Me and Dupree (11/21 - Universal), The Ant Bully (11/28 - Warner) and See No Evil (11/28 - Lionsgate). Now then... this next story will definitely pique the interest of anyone who loves Star Trek. This past weekend, I had the pleasure of participating in Mark Altman's panel discussion at World-Con in Anaheim (sponsored by CFQ magazine), where we discussed the future of the Star Trek franchise. One of the things that came up is the eventual release of Trek titles in high-definition. I've posted here on The Bits before that Star Trek: The Original Series (which was shot and finalized on film) is currently being given new high-def transfers by CBS for future HD syndication, as well as eventual release in the new HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc formats (click this link and slide down a few paragraphs for that story). Enterprise was shot on film also (for its first three seasons) and HD too (for the fourth season), and it was post-produced in HD from the beginning, so it's ready to go now. We also know that all of the feature films are being remastered for HD release. And Star Trek: The Animated Series was recently remastered in high-def (from the original film elements) for its upcoming DVD release. Now... going into the panel this weekend, I was wondering about The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager. All three of those shows were post-produced and edited in 4x3, standard definition video... but the episodes were all shot on film. CBS could, in theory, go back to the original film elements for those episodes, re-transfer them all in high-definition and re-do all of the special effects with new CGI at high-def resolution. The result would be rebuilt HD versions of the episodes. All that would be required is the will to do it and the money to get it done right. This possibility was discussed during the panel. So here's where it gets even more interesting. In doing some digging with our industry sources over the last few days... I've found out something that's going to come as a major surprise to a lot of you. It might be one of the best kept secrets in Hollywood in recent years. Never mind The Next Generation, Deep Space Nine and Voyager: It turns out that CBS Video, as part of their high-definition remastering of The Original Series, IS giving a lot of the special effects shots a new CG face-lift! Specifically, they're re-doing all of the spaceship shots. This to me is a very exciting idea... in principle. As anyone who saw the Mirror Universe episodes of Star Trek: Enterprise will tell you, the old TOS ships look awfully damn good in new CG. The replicated TOS sets, the original ship designs... rather than looking dated, they actually hold up VERY well by today's standards. Re-doing the effects will give new life to The Original Series and could help it appeal to a new, younger generation of fans. Unlike, say... the Star Wars films... the original versions of these episodes will always be preserved in GREAT remastered quality on DVD. And it would be extremely cool if CBS would release BOTH versions of the episodes on HD-DVD/Blu-ray, such that you can choose which version you wish to watch... the original or the new enhanced version. Here's my concern about this... I've learned that, rather than going with a proven effects house, CBS has chosen to do the new CG work in-house. One hopes that they've got someone with REAL Trek effects experience and knowledge involved in the effort... and they they're taking care to preserve the look and feel of the original shots. There's also the concern over whether CBS will re-frame the 1.33:1 aspect ratio series in 1.78:1 for HD presentation. I tried contacting CBS and their DVD distributor, Paramount, on this subject last week, but there was basically no comment. I suppose we'll find out soon enough, but cross your fingers in the meantime. Any way you slice it, however, this is a very interesting development. By the way, if anyone at CBS and Paramount DOES want to discuss this issue now... you know where to find me. As Spock might say... "Fascinating." Stay tuned... 8/24/06 We've got upcoming DVD street dates for a trio major Sony releases. Look for An Evening With Kevin Smith 2 on 11/7, followed by Who Killed the Electric Car and The Da Vinci Code on 11/14. Da Vinci Code will be released in three editions - single disc full frame and anamorphic widescreen, along with an anamorphic widescreen 2-disc special edition. Also today... a follow-up on something we've been telling you to expect for quite while now. 2007, as you may well be aware, is the 30th anniversary of the original Star Wars' debut in theaters. You'd have to be stupid not to know that Lucasfilm is going to have big DVD release plans with which to celebrate the anniversary, and we've been telling you that was the case for many months now. Indeed, during our last visit to the Ranch for the DVD release of Episode III, producer Rick McCallum confirmed that a box set of all six films was going to happen eventually, and animation director Rob Coleman even let it slip that the puppet Yoda from Episode I had already been replaced with a new CG Yoda to match Episodes II & III for the "future" release. T-Bone over at Star Wars Universe recently speculated about this box set, and we've been quietly checking in with our industry sources on it as well. Well, we've confirmed it: There IS a big, ultimate, 6-film Star Wars anniversary DVD box set planned for 2007. There will be more changes to the films, and there will be LOTS of new, never-before-seen special features - all the good stuff that was held back by Lucasfilm from the original Trilogy DVD release a few years ago. Think deleted scenes and more. We don't know if good, genuinely-REMASTERED versions of the original theatrical editions of the films will be included or not (though how you could call the set "ultimate" without them, we don't know). We don't expect high-definition versions yet, as those formats are just too new. We don't have ANY other details for you yet, so please don't ask. But as you consider whether or not to purchase the "limited edition" DVDs due on 9/12... we thought you should know that more IS absolutely on the way next year. 'Nuff said for now. As always, please keep in mind that titles discussed here are tentative and are subject to change until officially announced by the studios. Stay tuned... 8/9/06 We've got still more upcoming DVD street dates for you from our industry and retail sources. As always, please keep in mind that they're all tentative and are subject to change until officially announced by the studios. 12/5 - Snakes on a Plane (New Line), Clerks II (The Weinstein Company), Zoom (Sony) 12/12 - The Devil Wears Prada (Fox), Miami Vice (Universal), World Trade Center (Paramount), Barnyard: The Original Party Animals (Paramount) 12/19 - The Lady in the Water (Warner), All the Kings Men (Sony) 12/26 - Gridiron Gang (Sony), The Last Kiss (DreamWorks), Jackass II (Paramount) 1/16 - Open Season (Sony) Stay tuned... 7/28/06 We've got a few more interesting street dates for you from our industry and retail sources. Keep in mind, they're all tentative and are subject to change until officially announced by the studios. 9/26 - The Lake House (Warner) 10/3 - X-Men: The Last Stand (Fox), An Inconvenient Truth (Paramount) 10/10 - The Break-Up (Universal) 10/17 - The Omen (2006 - Fox) 10/24 - Nacho Libre (Paramount) 10/31 - Mission: Impossible III (Paramount) 11/7 - Little Man (Sony) 11/14 - John Tucker Must Die (Fox) 11/21 - You, Me and Dupree (Universal), Ice Age: The Meltdown (Fox), Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (Sony) 11/28 - My Super Ex-Girlfriend (Fox), The Ant Bully (Warner) Stay tuned... 7/19/06 Our industry sources have checked in with some tentatively planned street dates for major 4th Qtr standard DVD releases. Here's how things stack up at the moment: Click (10/10), Monster House (10/24), Cars (11/7), The Da Vinci Code (11/14), Superman Returns (11/28), Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (12/5) Keep in mind, all these dates are unofficial, as-yet-unannounced and are subject to change. Stay tuned... 7/12/06 Okay... this is a very quick update, but our industry sources are telling us to expect Universal's The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift and Curious George to street on DVD on 9/26. Also due on that day is Warner's The Lake House. Stay tuned... 6/15/06 Yes... it's true. We CAN confirm the story that MovieHole.net posted yesterday, specifically that Paramount IS indeed hard at work on the DVD release of Twin Peaks: Season Two for release later in 2006. In fact, they're going to be releasing both Season One and Season Two of the series together at the same time (as you may recall, Season One was briefly available a few years ago from Artisan). Yes, David Lynch himself is involved and yes, there's going to be some very cool, all-new special features. We've actually known this was happening for many months now, but had been cautioned to keep it on the down-low, given what's happened with Lynch DVD projects in the past (think Universal's Dune: Special Edition and the it-almost-happened Criterion release of Eraserhead). But things are more solid now and work is well underway, so there you go. The set is still TBA here in the States, but it's due on 11/2 in Australia, so you can assume its R1 street date will be sometime around then as well. Here's a little look-see at some artwork Paramount is preparing related to the DVD release... In other news today, sources are telling us to expect Magnolia to release Andy Garcia's The Lost City (featuring Dustin Hoffman and Bill Murray) on 8/8. Also, word is that Warner is currently planning the DVD and HD-DVD release of Wolfgang Peterson's Poseidon for 8/22. As always, keep in mind that this information is unofficial and subject to change until announced by the studios. 5/25/06 Our industry sources have checked in with another Paramount report. First, we're now hearing that Mission: Impossible III has tentatively been moved up to street on 9/29. Our sources have also confirmed a bit of information posted by our friends over at TVShowsonDVD.com, specifically that the first season of the classic Mission: Impossible TV series is currently planned to hit stores from The Mountain on 9/12. While we're on the subject of TV releases from the studio, Police Squad: The Complete Series is now looking like a possible November release, along with Star Trek: The Animated Series. The studio is also working on That's My Bush: The Complete Series (likely for October) and Gomer Pyle: Season One (likely December). On the feature film front, Paramount is tentatively planning the October DVD release of Over the Hedge, Nacho Libre and a Black Rain: Special Collector's Edition. Switching studios, a lot of you have been asking us when Universal is going to announce the release of Battlestar Galactica: Season 2.5 on DVD. We expect it to hit DVD shortly before the currently in production Season 3 debuts on The SciFi Channel in October. So look for a likely release window in the August or September range. Sources are telling us to expect Buena Vista's Stay Alive and Stick It on 8/15. Finally, we're hearing that Fox will street Just My Luck on 8/22 and The Sentinel on 8/29. As always, do keep in mind that these dates are tentative and could change before they're officially announced. 5/18/06 Our industry sources have checked in to report that Paramount is expecting to release Al Gore and director Davis Guggenheim's climate crisis documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, on DVD in late July (the film hits theaters on 5/25). The studio's now-in-theaters Mission: Impossible III is currently slated to street on disc in November, in single-disc and two-disc editions, and also has a box set with the other two films in the series. Here's perhaps the best news... look for Police Squad: The Complete Series from the mountain in October. Meanwhile, Lionsgate is planning to street Akeelah and the Bee in August. Sony has tentatively set Benchwarmers for release on 7/25, with RV following in August. Finally, Universal currently plans to release their in-theaters United 93 on 9/5. Keep in mind, these dates are tentative and could change before they're officially announced. 5/12/06 Our industry sources have checked in to report that Warner is currently planning to release V for Vendetta on DVD on 8/1 in two versions - single-disc (SRP $28.98) and a 2-disc special edition (SRP $34.99). The single disc version will include the movie, along with the Freedom! Forever!: Making V for Vendetta featurette. The 2-disc set will include that, plus the Designing the Near Future, Remember Remember: Guy Fawkes and The Gunpowder Plot and England Prevails: V for Vendetta and the New Wave in Comics featurettes, along with a Cat Power montage. We expect that there will be an HD-DVD version as well, likely released day and date. Also soon to be announced by Warner for 7/18 is The ATL. Sony is expected to release Basic Instinct 2 on 7/11. Universal's Inside Man is currently set for 8/8. Finally, Monarch is expected to announced Deepwater for 7/25. Keep in mind, these dates could change before they're officially announced by the studios. 5/3/06 So check this out Force fans. This is no joke and we've bent over backwards to confirm it's the real deal. Our very best industry sources have been checking in over the last couple of days - independently, I might add - with word that Lucasfilm and 20th Century Fox are finally going to be releasing the original theatrical versions of the Star Wars films on DVD... good old regular DVD... sometime in the second half of this year. You read that right - the original THEATRICAL versions. THIS year. The ones that George Lucas for a time insisted no longer existed. Look for the films to be sold as individual 2-disc sets (there may be a box set as well), and look for the official announcement to come soon, likely in the next week. Don't expect a Blu-ray Disc (or an HD-DVD) version this year however, but still... this is VERY, very cool news indeed. Kudos to Lucasfilm and Fox for finally giving fans of these films what they've been craving on DVD since 1997. Finally, people will have a choice as to which version they want to watch on 5" disc. Awesome news! We'll post more on this as it comes in, you can be sure. Stay tuned... 4/12/06 Our industry sources have checked in with unofficial word on what's up with 20th Century Fox's Blu-ray Disc release plans. It seems that, rather than announcing titles now and then having to delay them due to a lack of hardware, the studio is simply waiting for firm player availability dates from the Blu-ray supporting manufacturers (Sony, Pioneer, Samsung, etc...) before making their announcements. Once the hardware launch is more firm, however, look for around 20 launch titles to be ready to go from the studio. Fox's first release waves are expected to include a number of big recent theatrical titles and plenty of catalog material. Watch also for numerous day and date (with DVD) Blu-ray releases from the studio throughout the rest of 2006. You can be sure that we'll have all the details for you here at The Bits when they're officially announced. Stay tuned... 4/11/06 Our retail sources have checked in with word that Lionsgate is planning to delay their first wave of Blu-ray Disc releases (Crash, Lord of War, The Punisher, Saw and Terminator 2: Judgment Day - previously announced for 5/23) until 6/27 to coincide with the debut of the first Blu-ray hardware. We suspect this means that their second wave of titles on the format (The Devil's Rejects, Reservoir Dogs, Total Recall, Stargate and Frank Herbert's Dune - announced for 6/13) will get delayed as well. We'll update our High-Definition Release List with all the revised details as soon as they become official. Also, on the standard DVD front, word has reached us that Paramount is working on a new special edition of Ridley Scott's Black Rain for release later in 2006. Stay tuned... 4/6/06 Good news for Disney animated fans: Sources are telling us to expect The House of the Mouse to release a new 2-disc special edition of The Little Mermaid on 10/3, featuring a new restoration of the film, along with deleted scenes, an all-new music video, The Little Mermaid Virtual Ride (inspired by Disney Imagineering), "movie-making secrets" and much more. Should be very cool. Stay tuned! [Editor's Note: A trailer for The Little Mermaid: Special Edition appears on several recently released Disney DVDs, confirming the 10/3 street date. This title should be considered official, however the specific details as to the release's special features are still yet to be officially announced by the studio.] 3/24/06 Our industry sources are telling us to expect Fox to release their new remake of The Hills Have Eyes on DVD on 6/20, along with Aquamarine (now there's a strange double-bill). Fox's Date Movie is expected a week earlier, on 6/13. Disney is currently planning to release Eight Below on 6/20, with Annapolis following on 6/27. Lionsgate has A Good Woman tentatively slated for 6/6, with Madea's Family Reunion due on 6/27. Meanwhile, Sony is planning to release The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada sometime in June. Keep in mind that all dates are unofficial and subject to change until announced by the studios. Stay tuned! 3/21/06 We've got more expected DVD street dates and details from our industry sources for you today. First up, look for DreamWorks' Munich to be announced soon by Universal for release on 5/9. Separate single-disc widescreen and full frame editions will be available (SRP $29.98 each) along with a 2-disc Limited Edition (SRP $36.98). The single-disc editions will have a video introduction by director Steven Spielberg. The 2-disc edition will add a 7-part behind-the-scenes documentary (including The Mission, The Team, Memories of the Event, Portrait of an Era, The On-Set Experience, The International Cast and Editing, Sound and Music). Universal is expected to announce Nanny McPhee for release on 5/9 as well, featuring audio commentary with director Kirk Jones and the film's child stars, a second commentary with actor Emma Thompson and producer Lindsay Doran, the Casting the Children, Village Life, Nanny McPhee Makeover and How Nanny McPhee Came to Be featurettes, deleted scenes and a gag reel. Sony currently has Underworld Evolution slated for release on 6/6. The studio is also expected to announce soon the May DVD release of Freedomland and When a Stranger Calls (specific dates TBA). Finally, Disney has tentative plans to debut Eight Below on DVD on 6/20. Stay tuned! 3/8/06 Our industry sources have checked in with tentatively planned street dates for a number of upcoming May, June and July DVD releases. Here goes... First up, The Weinstein Company's The Matador (which we reported a couple days ago in the daily My Two Cents column had been delayed by distributor Genius Products from its original 4/25 release date) is now expected to arrive in stores on 7/11. Meanwhile, Paramount will release Beavis & Butt-head: The Mike Judge Collection, Volume 2 and NCIS: The Complete First Season on 6/6. Failure to Launch and Strangers with Candy: The Complete Series will follow on 6/27. FYI, Beavis & Butt-head will include 40 episodes (17 never before released before on DVD), 13 music videos with character commentary, the Taint of Greatness: The Journey of Beavis & Butt-head, Part 2 featurette, previously unaired segments and more. Strangers with Candy will be a 6-disc set including director's cuts of several episodes, 20 minutes of deleted scenes, audio commentaries and more. NCIS will be a 6-disc set as well, including 23 episodes in all. Universal is expected to street Something New on 5/16, Straight into Darkness on 6/6 and the new animated Curious George on 6/27. Warner's Syriana is still tenatively due on 6/6, with 16 Block following on 6/13 and Firewall set for release on 6/20. Sony plans to street Underworld 2 on 6/6 and Pink Panther on 6/13. Buena Vista's Glory Road is expected on 6/6, with Eight Below set to follow on 6/13, and Annapolis rounding out the month on 6/20. 20th Century Fox has set Like Mike 2 for 6/6, Date Movie and End of the Spear for 6/13, and The Hills Have Eyes and Aquamarine for 6/20. New Line has tentatively set Running Scared for 6/27. Finally, Lionsgate's Medea's Family Reunion is currently set for 6/27. Remember... all these dates are tentative and unofficial until announced by the studio and are subject to change. Stay tuned... 2/16/06 We've had a lot of people asking about this title lately, so we're very pleased to tell you that Warner is currently hard at work on a long-awaited DVD release of Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet. The title is (as yet) unannounced, but we've confirmed directly with the studio that they're working to get the disc on store shelves before the end of 2006. Also, industry sources tell us that Universal is expected to release Susan Stroman's recent movie version of The Producers on DVD on 4/25. Stay tuned... 2/15/06 We've got some street date updates for as-yet-unannounced titles from our industry sources today. First up, Buena Vista has moved up the release of Lasse Hallström's Casanova and Anand Tucker's Shopgirl, from 5/2 to 4/25. Warner has decided not to release Syriana on 4/18. Word is they're now planning a release in May or June instead. Finally, Universal is expected to announce the 4/4 release of Ang Lee's Brokeback Mountain on DVD very soon. Stay tuned... 2/14/06 Just a day after we posted information about the possibility of an extended edition of The Chronicles of Narnia coming to DVD... we're now hearing that Peter Jackson and Universal may be planning a King Kong: Extended Edition as well. Arnaud Calistri, the editor of the French DVD news site DVDRama, e-mailed me yesterday to say that Universal France has just confirmed that a deluxe King Kong "box set edition" is being prepared for DVD release in November of this year, and that it will feature a new edit of the film itself. France will also be getting the same two editions the studio just announced for release here in the States on 3/28, but not until August. We're working with our own sources to try and confirm this, but it definitely seems like a possibility given Jackson's track record with his Lord of the Rings extended DVDs. Stay tuned... 2/13/06 So... is anyone out there interested in seeing an extended edition of The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe? The theatrical editions are due to hit DVD on 4/4, but our industry sources are telling us that Disney is considering a longer version of the film for DVD release later this year or next, a la the dual versions of Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films. FYI, sources are also telling us to expect Warner's Rumor Has It to hit DVD on 5/9. Stay tuned... 2/9/06 Sources are telling us that Warner is currently planning to release Stephen Gaghan's Syriana on 4/18. We're still waiting to hear a street date for Shane Black's Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, but we've learned that the DVD release will include the Long Shadows Sharp Tongue: A Noir Documentary and a gag reel. Meanwhile, Buena Vista (for Touchstone) will release Lasse Hallström's Casanova and Anand Tucker's Shopgirl (written by Steve Martin) on 5/2. Stay tuned... 2/8/06 - LATE UPDATE We've learned from our industry sources that Buena Vista's planned DVD release of The Muppet Show: Season Two is temporarily on hold. We're not sure what's causing the delay, but it's quite possible that it's simply taking longer to assemble the release's episodes and extras this time around. Also, our sources in the know are telling us that the reason for the delay of Quentin Tarantino's long-awaited Kill Bill: Special Edition DVDs, is that the release rights to the Kill Bill films have left Miramax with the departure of the Brothers Weinstein. This applies to at least Tarantino's edited-together Whole Bloody Affair version, if not the theatrical versions (which as recently as CES were promoted by Buena Vista/Miramax for release on Blu-ray Disc format later in 2006 - click here and look at the fourth picture down). That would mean that any DVD release is going to be handled directly by The Weinstein Company, through their new DVD distribution partner, Genius Products (Derailed will be the first Weinstein film to be released by Genius on disc, on 3/21). Rest assured, we'll post more on both titles as we're able to learn it. Stay tuned... 2/8/06 - EARLY UPDATE Our ever-reliable industry sources have informed us that The Weinstein Company (with Genius Products) will release Richard Shepard and Pierce Brosnan's The Matador on 4/25. Separate full frame and widescreen editions will be available (SRP $28.95 each). Also today, we've gotten word that producer Sarah Greene has recently informed audiences at special limited screenings of Terrence Malick's The New World that the director has created an extended version of the film that will see release on DVD, possibly as early as March or April (from New Line). Malick doesn't make many films, but when he does they're well worth seeing, so this is very cool news indeed. Thanks to Bits reader Paul M. for the tip. Finally, eagle-eyed Bits reader Jason G. noticed an interesting omission from yesterday's list of the features on Universal's forthcoming King Kong: Special Edition. Specifically, missing is Prod. Diary 77: 13 Weeks to Go, which features a look at the recording of Howard Shore's music from the film. No doubt this had to do with Jackson's 10th hour replacement of Shore with James Newton Howard as the composer of the film's soundtrack (Jackson and Shore were reportedly having trouble finding common ground on the Kong score). You can view the original clip in Quicktime format here at Kong is King.net (while it lasts). Stay tuned... 2/7/06 Well... it seems that the German equivalent of the MPAA (the FSK) has just rated some of the extras on Disc Two of Universal's forthcoming King Kong: Special Edition (street date TBA, but believed to be 3/28). It looks like the set will pick up right where King Kong: Peter Jackson's Production Diaries left off. Here's some of what you can expect... Credits, Introduction by Peter Jackson, Kong's New York 1933, Natural History of Skull Island, Prod. Diary 55: Welcome to Postproduction, Prod. Diary 57: Kong Performance Capture, Prod. Diary 56: The Miniature Venture, Prod. Diary 58: Creating Sound Effects, Prod. Diary 59: A Visit to Editorial Department, Prod. Diary 60: Peter Answers Your Questions, Part 1, Prod. Diary 61: The Miniature Second Unit, Prod. Diary 62: Building a Miniature, Prod. Diary 63: Weta Digital Overview, Prod. Diary 64: Creating the Teaser Trailer, Prod. Diary 65: Sound Design, Prod. Diary 66: Shooting Additional Elements, Prod. Diary 67: Preparing for Pick Up Shooting, Prod. Diary 68: Pick Ups - The Cast Returns, Prod. Diary 69: Pick Ups - The Venture Extras, Prod. Diary 70: Pick Ups - Continuity, Prod. Diary 71: Pick Ups - The Wrap, Prod. Diary 73: Detailing the Miniatures, Prod. Diary 74: The Unsung Heroes of Rotoscoping, Prod. Diary 75: Foley Recording, Prod. Diary 76: Digital Doubles, Prod. Diary 78: Digital Color Grading, Prod. Diary 79: Motion Editing, Prod. Diary 80: Bringing Kong to Life - Animation, Prod. Diary 81: Filming the Miniatures, Prod. Diary 82: Kong Visits New Zealand, Prod. Diary 83: Mixing Dialogue, Music & Effects, Prod. Diary 84: The Mixing Board, Prod. Diary 85: The Music of Kong, Part 1, Prod. Diary 86: The Music of Kong, Part 2, Prod. Diary 87: Delivering the Film, Prod. Diary 88: Peter Answers Your Questions, Part 2, Prod. Diary 89: The World Premiere, Prod. Diary 90: The New Zealand Premiere, See More of NYC in 'Wish You Were Here' and Touareg & King Kong (the VW Spot). Nice. Watch for Universal's official DVD release announcement soon. Thanks to Bits reader Christian L. for the link! 2/1/06 Here's our very own Todd Doogan with some Rumor Mill musings: Lookie, lookie, lookie here. I'm in no way, shape or form a gossip junkie, but I stumbled upon this story in The New York Daily News last week. If you read between the lines in that second paragraph... to me it clearly says that Angelina Jolie will be playing Ava in the new Sin City flick that's coming to us end of this year/beginning of next. She. Is. Perfect. Seriously. Ava is the femme fatale from the Sin City story A Dame to Kill For, which would be a prequel to both A Hard Goodbye and Big Fat Kill, and is one of Frank Miller's best. Ava's a raven-haired beauty, one of the most beautiful women on the planet - the kind of woman who can make cool as a cucumber Dwight completely loose it. And most of the novel, we focus on her body in silhouette and her beautiful mouth. Besides looking just like Ava in the comic, I mean, can you picture a better body or mouth? Here's some pics of Ava "in the ink" from Sin City artwork... Jolie will have her baby in June, and should be back in shape a few weeks to a month after... so that leaves her the right amount of time to shoot her stuff. I dunno, but I'm pretty excited now. Anyway, check out the story and see if you can come to the same conclusions as me... - TD 1/27/06 We've been told by our sources to expect 20th Century Fox to release Stay on 3/28. Meanwhile, Sony will debut Memoirs of a Geisha on 3/28 as well. And we expect Disney's The Greatest Game Ever Played on 4/11. Stay tuned... 1/26/06 We thought you might like to know that our sources are reporting that Sony is tentatively planning to release Hostel on DVD on 4/18. Also, on the Paramount front, we've got some early word on the extras to expect on the studio's forthcoming DVD editions of Event Horizon (4/18) and Aeon Flux (4/25). The 2-disc Event Horizon: Special Collector's Edition will include include audio commentary by director Paul W.S. Anderson and producer Jeremy Bolt, the 5-part Making of Event Horizon documentary, The Unseen Event Horizon featurette (on an unfilmed rescue scene, featuring conceptual artwork), The Point of No Return featurette (on the filming of the movie itself), the original theatrical trailer and a video trailer. Meanwhile, Aeon Flux will include "four eye-popping featurettes, commentary by producer Gale Anne Hurd and Charlize Theron, commentary by writers Phil Hay and Matt Manfredi, and the theatrical trailer." So there you have it. Stay tuned... 1/20/06 We've gotten word in today on the extras you can expect on Fox's forthcoming DVD release of Walk the Line. We're expecting the studio to announce it very soon, and sources are telling us to look for the title on store shelves by mid-March at the latest. Walk the Line be available in 2 versions. There will be a single-disc regular edition (SRP $29.98), that'll include the film in anamorphic widescreen video (a separate full frame version may also be available) along with director commentary, 10 deleted scenes and theatrical trailers. There will also be a 2-disc Collector's Edition (SRP $39.98) that will include the film in anamorphic widescreen video, the same director commentary, 10 deleted scenes and theatrical trailers as the regular edition, plus 3 extended music videos, and The Passion of the Man in Black and Walk the Line: Comeback documentaries. In other Fox news, Steve Martin fans may be pleased to learn (or more likely not) that Cheaper by the Dozen 2 is expected to arrive in mid-March. Also, we've got some very good news today for you fans of producer David E. Kelley's various TV series. As many of you already know, Fox DID release a "best of" DVD of Ally McBeal episodes back in 2000... but that's pretty much been it thus far. Fox DOES own the DVD release rights to all of the Kelley TV series, including Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Snoops, The Practice and the current hit Boston Legal. It turns out that the problem with getting these things on DVD is the dreaded music rights clearance issue. Popular music plays a key role (to varying degrees of prominence) in virtually all of Kelley's shows, and getting the music industry to license these songs affordably for home video is an expensive prospect. That said, our sources are telling us to expect both Ally McBeal: The Complete First Season and Boston Legal: The Complete First Season to arrive on DVD from Fox sometime in the first half of 2006. Hey... it's a start. Stay tuned... 1/18/06 Here's a few more anticipated street dates for upcoming titles: Watch for Disney to announce their animated Chicken Little for release on 3/21 any day now. Meanwhile, Sony is expected to debut its Memoirs of a Geisha on 3/28. And look for Sony's Fun with Dick and Jane on 4/11. Stay tuned... 1/13/06 Here's a little something for you fans of director Ridley Scott. As we reported last year, 20th Century Fox was planning to let Scott cut together a director's cut of his Kingdom of Heaven, with some 40+ minutes of footage restored to the edit. This has in fact happened, and the new director's cut was recently given a two week theatrical run at a theater here in Los Angeles. We've reported that this longer edit of the film would eventually be given its own DVD release, and now our industry sources are telling us that Fox is planning to make that happen in sometime in mid to late 2006. We'll bring you more details as things develop. FYI, we wouldn't be surprised to see this longer cut appear on high-definition Blu-ray Disc format as well as DVD before the year is out. Stay tuned... 1/12/06 We've gotten some more new street date information from our industry sources for some major early '06 titles: Universal is planning to release Peter Jackson's King Kong on 3/28. New Line has Just Friends scheduled for March 7. Paramount has tentatively slated Yours Mine & Ours for February 28. Miramax's Derailed is currently due on 3/21. Finally, we're hearing Disney's The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is tentatively due in early April. Keep in mind, all of these dates are unofficial until the studio makes their actual public announcements. Stay tuned... 1/4/06 Hot street date news from our sources has just come in! Some of this is soon to be announced (a couple titles may already be announced by the time we post this), but watch for them all to be revealed soon. Here's the lowdown on titles and dates: Warner - Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (3/7), Good Night and Good Luck (3/14), Syriana (4/25), Rumor Has It (5/9) Sony - The Squid & the Whale (3/14) Paramount - Get Rich or Die Tryin' (3/28) Lionsgate - Saw II (2/14) Stay tuned... 12/15/05 Well... we've confirmed with multiple sources now, each in places to know, that work is definitely underway at Paramount for a 2006 DVD release of Star Trek: The Complete Animated Series. And we have a little bit of additional information today as well. In our last post, we'd said to expect the title early in 2006. We're now hearing that mid-to-late 2006 is the more likely timeframe. One source told us not to expect the title on the studio's release schedule before June, and a couple of others have let us know that September or October is tentatively planned. Upon doing some research, September would make sense. It was back on September 8th of 1966 that the original Star Trek series first debuted on NBC TV here in the States. That would make September 2006 the franchise's official 40th Anniversary. Heck... they canned Enterprise, there are no new movies on the way yet (although there are some new rumors - click here and here). Paramount's gotta do SOMETHING for the 40th Anniversary, right? Makes sense to me. [Editor's Note: Several readers have e-mailed to remind us that The Animated Series also made its TV debut on September 8th, back in 1973.] [12/16 Update: Since this information was first posted yesterday, Paramount has officially confirmed with us that The Animated Series IS being prepared for DVD release in mid to late 2006.] Keep those hailing frequencies open, 'cause you know we'll keep you up to date on this in the weeks and months ahead... 12/5/05 We've got tentative word that might interest you Star Trek fans today. It seems like we report on this title about every six months, only to see its release delayed again. But sources are telling us that work is indeed underway on a long-awaited DVD release of Star Trek: The Complete Animated Series. If all goes well, look for Paramount to release the title early in 2006. Speaking of Paramount, we're being told that the studio is also soon to announce full-season DVD releases of JAG, Navy NCIS, Numb3rs, Medium, Wings, the classic Mission: Impossible, Perry Mason, The Beverly Hillbillies, The Phil Silvers Show, The Sentinel and The Wild Wild West. The 4400: Season Two is also on the way. Now if we could just get 1492: The Conquest of Paradise and Robinson Crusoe on Mars outta Paramount, we'd REALLY be happy... Stay tuned! 11/18/05 Just a quick report from our industry sources on a few upcoming DVD releases. Sources are telling us to expect Touchstone's Flightplan to land in stores on 2/7. Also, look for Paramount's The Weather Man on 1/31. And 20th Century Fox is expected to release Separate Lies on 2/21. Stay tuned... 11/2/05 Our industry sources have informed us that 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is getting ready to announce some interesting "Cinema Classics Collection" catalog titles for release in January. They include Island in the Sun (with audio commentary by John Stanley and the Dorothy Dandridge: Little Girl Lost documentary), Stormy Weather (with audio commentary by Dr. Todd Boyd and the Bill Robinson: Mr. Bojangles documentary) and Pinky (with audio commentary by Kenneth Geist). All three titles will carry an SRP of $19.98 and are expected to street on 1/10. Other "Cinema Classics Collection" titles coming in early 2006 from Fox include The Charlie Chan Collection: Volume One (a box set with different titles that those MGM released in their Chanthology set), The Jayne Mansfield Collection (a box set including The Wayward Bus, The Girl Can't Help It and Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?), and new special editions of Valley of the Dolls and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Stay tuned... 10/27/05 We've just gotten more street date information from our industry sources. Look for the following titles to be announced soon for the dates listed: Universal - Broken Flowers (1/3), The Constant Gardener (1/10), Two for the Money (1/17) Lions Gate - Lord of War (1/17) Buena Vista - Underclassman (Miramax - 1/17), Flightplan (Touchstone - 1/24) First Look - Half Light (1/17) Stay tuned... 10/26/05 Just a quick bit of information from our industry sources for you fans of Steven Bochco's Over There. Word is, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment is currently working on a DVD release of the show's complete first season. Look for it to hit store shelves in early Spring (possibly as early as March). Stay tuned... 10/20/05 We've got a few more new street dates for you from our industry sources. Here you go: Sony - The Exorcism of Emily Rose (12/20), Into the Blue (12/26), The Cave (1/3/06) 20th Century Fox - Transporter 2 (1/10/06) Lions Gate - Lord of War (1/17/06) Buena Vista - Underclassman (1/17/06), Flightplan (1/24/06) For you fans of Kingdom of Heaven today, in a recent interview with the Guardian Unlimited director Ridley Scott alluded to a future director's cut release of the film on DVD. You may recall that when I originally reviewed the film back in May, I said that a LOT of footage had been cut for the theatrical release - entire subplots were trimmed for time. Expect this director's cut to be released as a multi-disc set in 2006. The film will be some 45 minutes longer (and we hear MUCH better). Thanks to Bits reader Rezaul L. for the link. Watch for our review of the new theatrical edition DVD very soon. Stay tuned... 10/6/05 Our ever reliable industry sources are telling us that Universal will soon announce the DVD release of Joss Whedon's Serenity for 12/20. Early word indicates that the disc may include Whedon audio commentary, along with at least 4 behind-the-scenes featurettes (Future History, We'll Have a Fruity Oaty Good Time, Re-Lighting the Firefly and What's in a Firefly), a video introduction to the film by Whedon and 6 minutes worth of outtakes. Some of the details on the extras comes from the BBFC website (click the link and hit enter). We'll post more as it comes in. By the way, look for Universal to announce Cry Wolf for release on 12/20 as well, with American Pie: Band Camp following on 12/27. Stay tuned... 9/28/05 Our friends over at TVShowsonDVD.com have let us know that the latest scuttlebutt has HBO releasing the classic Get Smart TV series on DVD in 2006. HBO apparently owns the rights to the property, as they produced the short-lived 1995 remake series. Also today, there are online reports from various Superman-themed websites (including Superman Cinema) that Warner Bros. and producer Ilya Salkind have finally negotiated a deal for the release of director Richard Donner's original unused footage from Superman II. This would allow for the creation of a long-awaited Superman II: Director's Cut that would be closer to the film Donner was crafting before the film was taken away from him by the studio back in 1979 and given to replacement director Richard Lester. Donner, as many of you know, also directed the original Superman: The Movie (the two films were shot, for the most part, simultaneously). The idea behind all of this, of course, is that Warner wants to release new DVD special editions of Superman II, Superman III and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace in conjunction with the theatrical or DVD debut of Bryan Singer's currently in production Superman Returns. The new film is expected to hit theaters in June 2006. We've got our sources checking on both of these stories, and we'll let you know when we're able to confirm them. Stay tuned... 8/30/05 We've just received an update on anticipated street dates for a pair of major upcoming DVD releases. Our latest information indicates that Warner's Charlie and the Chocolate Factory will arrive on DVD on 11/8. Also, DreamWorks is now expected to release Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds on 11/22. Watch for official announcements soon. Stay tuned... 8/25/05 The street dates keep pouring in from our industry sources. Look for Sony's Christmas with the Kranks and Lions Gate's The Devil's Rejects on 11/8. Universal's Skeleton Key, Dreamworks' War of the Worlds (2005 - the Spielberg version) and Lions Gate's Happy Endings follow on 11/15. Finally, Warner rounds out the month of November with March of the Penguins on 11/22. Watch for official announcements soon. Stay tuned... 8/22/05 Our industry sources have checked in with the expected street date for 20th Century Fox's Fantastic Four on DVD. Look for it to hit stores on 12/6. Just in case you were wondering. Adjust your ever-lovin’ plans accordingly. Stay tuned... 8/1/05 Well, we've got a bit more Batman Begins and Titanic information for you today. First up, Batman Begins. We've gotten word from sources on the contents of the 2-disc DVD set (tentative street date 10/18), which we now expect to include anamorphic widescreen video, Dolby Digital 5.1 audio, audio commentary with director Christopher Nolan and co-writer David Goyer, 10 behind-the-scenes featurettes (including The Journey Begins, Genesis of the Bat, Path to Discovery, Shaping Mind and Body, Gotham City Rises, Cape and Cowl, The Tumbler, Saving Gotham City, Reflections on Writing and Digital Batman), the film's teaser and theatrical trailers and at least a few Easter eggs. Most of this information appears to be confirmed by a quick search of the British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) website. The BBFC reviews film and DVD content in advance of release and issues ratings (much like the MPAA does in the U.S. for theatrical films). The BBFC website has also issued a "12" rating on some 62 minutes of branching footage from 20th Century Fox and Paramount's forthcoming Titanic: Special Edition (click here for that). This seems to include deleted scenes and behind-the-scenes/production video, which will all be viewable in context while you're watching the film via a non-seamless branching option (on Discs One and Two of the three disc set). The list of video clips is as follows (thanks to Bits reader Justin B. for the link): Deep Dive, Upside-down Wreck Miniature, Escondido Underwater Set, Two Roses, Sinking Simulation, 1912 Morph Transition VFX, Southampton Flop, A View from the Pub VFX, Leaving Port VFX, Melting Pot, The Millionaire's Suite, The Engine Room, Titanic at Sea, Digital People, The Million Dollar Shot, The Big Exterior Ship Set, Rose Suicide, Big Ship Set VFX, Tux Story, The Grand Staircase, Costume Design, First Class Dining Room, Dinner Shoot, Third Class Party, A Woman's Place, The Etiquette Kid, The Boiler Room, Flooding Hold Miniature, Iceberg/Deck VFX, Boiler Room Flooding, First Class Lounge Miniature, Shooting in Steerage, Kate's Action Costume, Crane as Helicopter, Lifeboats 13 & 15, Flooded First Class Dining Room, Stage 2 Sinking Set, Faking a Tilt, The Sinking Riser, Ship Extensions, Falling Funnel, Grand Staircase Flooding, Miniature Hall Flooding, Jumping Stunts, Tilting Poop Deck, Deck Sliders, Digital Stunt People, Sinking Videomatic, Ship Split Miniature, Vertical Poop Deck Stunts, The Toilet Paper Shot, Final Plunge VFX, Underwater Greenscreen, Interior Tank Shoot, Breath Shots, Exterior Tank Shoot, Ice Makeup, Open Lifeboats and the Carpathia, Carpathia Medal, The Final Shot and Making the Music Video. Once again, let me remind you that this is all unofficial until the studios make their appropriate announcements. Stay tuned... Archived Posts
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