Posted Fri Feb 8, 2008 at 06:00 AM PST by Peter Bracke
Warner has revealed more of its next-gen disc release plans for 2008/2009, adding 'The Matrix Trilogy,' 'Heat' and 'Ben-Hur' to its Blu-ray dance card.
As we've previously reported, Warner kicked off a year-long celebration of the studio's 85th anniversary at a media event earlier this week, unveiling a slew of highly anticipated Blu-ray titles for 2008 and early 2009.
The studio has now revealed even more of its next-gen plans to the folks over at The Digital Bits, highlighted by an initiative to release all future high-profile catalog special edition titles on both DVD and Blu-ray simultaneously.
Among the newly-revealed classics planned for release of the coming two years are 'Gigi,' 'An American in Paris,' 'How the West Was Won' and a 50th Anniversary Edition of 'Ben-Hur.'
Furthermore, the studio has pledged to release all of its Blu-ray "catch up" titles over the course of 2008/2009, including such previously HD DVD exclusive titles as 'Casablanca,' 'The Adventures of Robin Hood,' 'V for Vendetta' and 'The Matrix Trilogy.'
The following is an updated list of all Blu-ray titles confirmed by Warner this week for 2008/2009 (note that the studio has stressed that this line-up is not intended to be a complete schedule of its planned Blu-ray releases, but rather a peek at some of the higher profile releases currently being planned for Blu-ray release):
Q2 2008: 'Dirty Harry: Ultimate Collection' (includes 'Dirty Harry,' 'Magnum Force,' 'The Enforcer,' 'Sudden Impact,' 'The Dead Pool' and bonus disc "Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows')
Q3 2008: 'An American in Paris,' 'Batman Anthology' (includes 'Batman,' 'Batman Returns,' 'Batman Forever,' 'Batman & Robin,' 'Batman Begins'), 'Batman Begins,' 'Gigi,' 'How the West Was Won'
Q4 2008: 'A Christmas Story: Ultimate Collector's Edition,' 'Otis: Uncut'
2008: 'The Adventures of Robin Hood,' 'Casablanca,' 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,' 'Clash of the Titans,' 'Excalibur,' 'Forbidden Planet,' 'Grand Prix,' 'Heat,' 'The Matrix Trilogy,' 'Mutiny on the Bounty,' 'V for Vendetta'
2009: 'Ben-Hur,' 'Gone with the Wind,' 'North By Northwest,' 'The Wizard of Oz,' 'Woodstock'
2008/2009 Theatrical Releases: '10,000 B.C.,' 'Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,' 'The Dark Knight,' 'Get Smart,' 'Speed Racer'' and 'Where the Wild Things Are.'
Warner has not released specific dates or tech specs for any of the above titles, but the studio is promising additional details in the coming months as each title is individually dated.
Until then, you'll each of these titles listed in the "Release Dates Pending" section of our Blu-ray Release Schedule.
The latest news on all things 4K Ultra HD, blu-ray and Gear.