Warner confirms Blade Runner DVD plans
31-05-2006 21:26 | 44377 views | Dave Foster | Show Backlinks
Warner Home Video have confirmed their plans for Ridley Scott’s long-awaited definitive version of Blade Runner with a recently issued press release detailing plans for two separate DVD releases, one later this year and another to follow in 2007.
Warner Home Video (WHV) announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and plans two new DVD releases of the futuristic classic. Rights had lapsed a year ago, but negotiations for a long-term license have now been completed, and the film will again be available to the public.
First, a restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cut will debut in September in the U.S. and October in the UK for a special four-month limited release, after which it will be placed on moratorium by WHV.
Later in 2007, to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary, the studio will unveil Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Scott’s definitive new version of his science-fiction masterpiece. The film will be released theatrically in select major U.S. cities, followed by a multi-disc Special Edition DVD release which will also contain three alternate versions of Blade Runner: the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut, the Expanded International Theatrical Cut and the 1992 Director’s Cut. Ample, ground-breaking bonus features will also be included.
In making the announcement, Jeff Baker, WHV’s Senior VP and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog said: “This is clearly Ridley’s signature film and we are thrilled to have it back. While details of the new DVDs will be announced later, we wanted to get this great news to the many serious film buffs and ardent Blade Runner fans who’ve been so patient, despite besieging us with thousands of annual requests in recent years for new Blade Runner DVDs.
Continued Baker, “A number of people have told me that in the start-up days of DVD, Blade Runner was absolutely the first DVD title they wanted, so much so that they purchased it even before their first DVD player! I guarantee these fans our new DVDs will be well worth waiting for.”
Blade Runner -- starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos and Daryl Hannah -- made its first appearance in U.S. theaters on June 25, 1982, dazzling audiences with its stylish, brooding look into the future. From its intelligent, provocative story line to its stunning camera work and state-of-the art special effects, Blade Runner opened the door to a new view of tomorrow.
Set in a multi-ethnic, overcrowded, high-tech city of the future, Blade Runner was also a benchmark in production design and helped propel the “cyberpunk” look into mainstream American consciousness.
Warner Home Video (WHV) announced today that it has acquired worldwide rights to Ridley Scott’s Blade Runner and plans two new DVD releases of the futuristic classic. Rights had lapsed a year ago, but negotiations for a long-term license have now been completed, and the film will again be available to the public.
First, a restored and remastered DVD version of the 1992 Director’s Cut will debut in September in the U.S. and October in the UK for a special four-month limited release, after which it will be placed on moratorium by WHV.
Later in 2007, to celebrate the film’s 25th anniversary, the studio will unveil Blade Runner: The Final Cut, Scott’s definitive new version of his science-fiction masterpiece. The film will be released theatrically in select major U.S. cities, followed by a multi-disc Special Edition DVD release which will also contain three alternate versions of Blade Runner: the Original U.S. Theatrical Cut, the Expanded International Theatrical Cut and the 1992 Director’s Cut. Ample, ground-breaking bonus features will also be included.
In making the announcement, Jeff Baker, WHV’s Senior VP and General Manager, Theatrical Catalog said: “This is clearly Ridley’s signature film and we are thrilled to have it back. While details of the new DVDs will be announced later, we wanted to get this great news to the many serious film buffs and ardent Blade Runner fans who’ve been so patient, despite besieging us with thousands of annual requests in recent years for new Blade Runner DVDs.
Continued Baker, “A number of people have told me that in the start-up days of DVD, Blade Runner was absolutely the first DVD title they wanted, so much so that they purchased it even before their first DVD player! I guarantee these fans our new DVDs will be well worth waiting for.”
Blade Runner -- starring Harrison Ford, Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos and Daryl Hannah -- made its first appearance in U.S. theaters on June 25, 1982, dazzling audiences with its stylish, brooding look into the future. From its intelligent, provocative story line to its stunning camera work and state-of-the art special effects, Blade Runner opened the door to a new view of tomorrow.
Set in a multi-ethnic, overcrowded, high-tech city of the future, Blade Runner was also a benchmark in production design and helped propel the “cyberpunk” look into mainstream American consciousness.
Comments
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Alien Member
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So why bother with the first release:confused:
Member
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I hope this is also available on Region 2, or I'll die!
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Me I'll probably pick up both as:
A: Considering the history of this film I'm not risking it goes all horribly wrong
B: It will be easy to sell/trade
C: The wait will kill me (yes literally :D)
D: Blade Runner is one of the best films ever made, outstanding
But wait this news contradicts what has been post elsewhere and omits the brand news 2007 Final Cut? I read there would be four cuts:
1. USA Theatrical Cut
2. European Theatrical Cut - It's pushing it to call it expanded (it's a little more violent)
3. 1992 Director's Cut
4. Final 2007 Director's Cut
Why isn't it mentioned here?
The film will be released theatrically in select major U.S. cities
I hope this is an American press release as I really hope Europe gets a theatrical run too?
I'd love to see this on the big screen, it's a no brainer for me.
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(edit: and DVDdvd beat me to that comment ;) )
I'm not really the biggest fan of the film, but these sound like essential purchases. Warner releases are (almost) always worth the wait.
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Originally Posted by Predator:
Oh!
So why bother with the first release:confused:
Well, that is a good question. On the face of it, it could be a double dip scenario in the offing, however, it has been rumoured that a lot of work had already been done on the 1992 DC for a release last year. Maybe they are just capitalising on the work that had already been done?
The other thing worth considering is that the DC may just be viewable through seamless branching on the 2007 edition. From what I have read elsewhere, it should be top of everyones must have list for next year.
Originally Posted by DVDdvd:
I hope this is also available on Region 2, or I'll die!
Oh please!! Go and get your player modified rather than threatening your own mortality.
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Originally Posted by hiram.k.hackenbacker:
Well, that is a good question. On the face of it, it could be a double dip scenario in the offing, however, it has been rumoured that a lot of work had already been done on the 1992 DC for a release last year. Maybe they are just capitalising on the work that had already been done?
Or it's a teaser. I mean, people got the theatrical versions of LotR trilogy too despite knowing a fully-blown box set was on the way.
Oh please!! Go and get your player modified rather than threatening your own mortality.
Actually I doubt that's necessary; WB are famous for coding their so-called R1-releases to regions 1-4, so they will work on European players anyway. Only difference is that they're NTSC. :)
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Why not pay the few extra bucks and credit his quiff to the screen?
And Scott is a DTS fan, so that should be a no-brainer.:)
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As for the dvd releases, I agree with bradavon: both releases will be on my wishlist as it would be just typical to find the 'daddy' of all boxsets being put further and further back on the release schedules, never to be seen, and mean me missing out on the only updated release I could have laid hands on (plus, I just can't wait!) :eek:
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mouahahh :p really Ridley Scott is the daddy of cuts.
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Originally Posted by bestdirector:
how about a Philip K. Dick cut for 2008 ?
mouahahh :p really Ridley Scott is the daddy of cuts.
That'd be a whole new film!:D
(Anyone who doesn't understand that needs to read "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?")
This is the best DVD news I've heard in a long time. I only hope there's a thatrical release in the UK too. Fortunately, I've seen it on the big screen (YEARS ago!) thanks to my school having a film society, but I'd love to see it again like that and in a proper cinema.
This is one occasion in which I'll be "gullible" and buy it straight away and get the boxset later too, regardless of whether the features are identical.
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agreed. in this day and age a man can pick up a multi-region player for next to nothing, yet many people still only have Region 2 players. :rolleyes:
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Three cheers go to Warners who are rapidly becoming great at DVD sets (look what they did with the Matrix films and their plans for the upcoming Superman set)
I'm pleased that Warners has listened to the fans and are bringing us what we want.
For the record I believe (having read the excellent book Film Noir: The Making Of Blade Runner) that Ridley Scott's preferred version was the version that was shown to preview audiences in 1982 with an alternate title sequence and additonal footage and no voiceover ...so I presume that will be the one released as the new 'The Final Cut' (Ridley wanted to do this in 1992 but issues got in the way)
Great news ..the DVD event of 2007 (and I believe the 2006 release will a 2 disc set with additonal extras that may not be available in the larger set so double dipping may have to be an option -for once I don't mind)
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Originally Posted by jooppy:
What is the point of releasing a final cut in 2007 on DVD? Surely they should be aiming this to be released on HD-DVD or Blu Ray instead?
Because it's only a year away - 99% of the home cinema market is still going to be DVD. I'm sure it'll be released on HD-DVD and Blu-ray as well, but it's going to be years before anything is released on HD instead of DVD.
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I also think that HD DVD will take off a lot faster than only 1% of the market by the end of next year. There is a huge push on for sales of HD Ready TV's right now, and also with the release of the Playstation 3 and the 360 HD player, it wont be long before people ditch DVD for HD DVD. If HD TV is the future, then I dont see people settling for DVD on their HD screens - having seen DVD run on a HD TV, it looks horrible compared to an HD feed...
I myself do not have an HD TV just yet (waiting for the content and prices to come down first), but I have already fallen in the trap of "I will wait for it to come out on HD before buying it" since I dont see the point in buying new DVD's now when I know that in a years time a much better version will be available.
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Originally Posted by jooppy:
I was not meaning HD only releases, but surely the announcement would have mentioned HD if they were even thinking of releasing the film on any of the HD formats...
Fear not! According to another site which will remain nameless, Warner have confirmed that the studio's release plans for 'Blade Runner' include issuing the film on the high-def DVD formats it currently supports, including HD DVD and Blu-ray.
You're probably right that HD will take off fast - my "99%" was a bit flippant. But the hardware is going to be very expensive initially, and as far as I know we haven't even got release dates for the first UK HD-DVD and Blu-ray players yet, never mind any actual discs.
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