Posted Wed Oct 7, 2020 at 03:02 AM PDT by Matthew Hartman
After a flurry of posts and updates, pre-orders going live and then coming back down, incomplete info, and finally getting actual confirmation all of this was legit -- and a much needed night of sleep -- we have some firm details and pre-order information about The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy and The Hobbit Motion Picture Trilogy 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases coming this December
FIRST - As how it's been reported, Peter Jackson and his team went back to the original elements to create new 4K masters for these releases - the original 35mm elements for LOTR and the digital elements for Hobbit. Both sets will include the Theatrical Cuts and the Extended Cuts. Both sets will feature HDR10 standard and Dolby Vision. Both sets will also get a Dolby Atmos audio upgrade - which should be a delight to fans all across Middle Earth. I haven't found a final slate of bonus features anywhere - there may not be many as a MUCH larger "Ultimate" set of all six films including remastered Blu-rays of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, all archival bonus features as well as new bonus features will be coming out mid-to-late 2021 to celebrate the franchise's 20th Anniversary. As for the current slate of sets arriving 12/1/2020 - you have some options...
Both trilogies are getting standard releases, 9-discs for LOTR with The Hobbit getting 6-discs. Both trilogies are getting fancy SteelBook sets from Best Buy while Amazon is issuing a special Limited Edition Giftset of LOTR with special book packaging and a prop replica of The One Ring - which reportedly will not turn you invisible. Now all you have to decide is which set to make you precious...
That's pretty much everything for now - as we learn more we'll update the listings. Hope this release makes your Holiday season a little extra awesome this year!
Both the standard releases of The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy 4K UHD Blu-ray and The Hobbit Motion Picture Trilogy 4K UHD Blu-ray sets are now available to pre-order on Amazon for $89.99 each. No word on specs, but from the look of the images these don't appear to include the 1080p Blu-rays - LOTR is a 9-disc set while Hobbit appears to only be a 6-disc set.
Again this is a developing story and as soon as we get official word from Warner Bros. we'll dish that info out. For now - here's what these standard sets look like.
Interestingly the Best Buy listings for the 4K UHD SteelBooks for both Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit appear to have been taken down. We'll keep an eye on that as well. Stay tuned...
This is a developing story as Warner Bros. has yet to confirm or issue an official press release about The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray trilogies. However, Best Buy now has both The Hobbit Motion Picture Trilogy 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook and The Lord of the Rings Motion Picture Trilogy 4K UHD Blu-ray SteelBook up with a street date of 12/1/2020. So far only LOTR is actually up for pre-order but both sets have a list price of $119.99.
Again - we don't have any technical details, don't know the final audio mix or the HDR grade. Judging from the only picture we have of the LOTR set - it looks to be a 9-disc set, each movie getting 3 discs + digital.
As soon as Warner Bros. issues a propper press release we'll update this article with links to standard editions as well as any other possible retailer exclusives that may be coming along.
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