Universal has also set Jordan Peele’s Us for Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD release on 6/18.
And Universal will release The Scorpion King on 4K Ultra HD on 6/18 as well.
But here’s the big one: We can confirm that Disney and Pixar are going to be releasing Toy Story, Toy Story 2, and Toy Story 3 on 4K Ultra HD in June, likely early in the month. (I’m working to determine the street date, so stay tuned.) This is timed to promote the theatrical release of Toy Story 4 on 6/21.
We’ve updated our 4K Ultra HD Release List here at The Bits accordingly.
Now then... in other news today, our friends at Criterion have just announced their first month of programming that will be featured on The Criterion Channel when it launches on 4/8. Click here to check that out and if you haven’t signed up yet... what are you waiting for? We’ve got to support quality access to great films like this!
Also today, the Warner Archive is celebrating its 10th Anniversary, so be sure to give them some love on social media too (here on Facebook and here on Twitter).
And finally, there’s this... as many of you know, Disney finally closed its deal to purchase 20th Century Fox on Wednesday. And the axe has already begun to fall on a bunch of people at Fox, including many people who have been friends of The Bits for many years. (You can read more here at Media Play News and here at Variety.) Among those I know who’ve already officially been severed from the company (or have retired in anticipation of it) are longtime home entertainment chief Mike Dunn, Fox Innovation Lab leader Danny Kaye, and Fox’s chief technology officer, Hanno Basse. Dunn saw Fox through the HD format war, and Kaye and Basse have been key figures in not just Blu-ray but 4K Ultra HD, ensuring the highest possible quality for the format. Sadly, that’s just the start. I’ve recently spoken with other people I know there at the studio and they’re all looking at a very uncertain future and likely layoffs.
So... to all of you guys, I would just like to take this opportunity to publically say: Thank you.
Thank you for everything you’ve all done for the home entertainment industry, for movie fans, for Blu-ray, for DVD... and for The Digital Bits. And thank you all for your friendship and support. I hope each of you gets though this difficult time with the least amount of stress and moves on to bigger and better things.
Disney, you have a very high bar to maintain now that you’ve absorbed the Fox legacy. So don’t let us down.
That’s all for this week. Back on Monday with a review of Aquaman in 4K & more. Stay tuned…
(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)