In release news today, retail sources are now starting to confirm the physical 4K UHD release of a title we first mentioned here at The Bits about a month ago: Brian De Palma’s The Untouchables, which stars Kevin Costner, Sean Connery, and Robert De Niro. Look for it to arrive on physical 4K Steelbook on or about 5/31. Expect HDR10 high dynamic range and probably 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. I’ve seen the new 4K Digital presentation that’s on iTunes and Vudu now, however, and it’s fantastic. It should make a great disc release.
Also, a number of retailers are starting to take 4K and Blu-ray pre-orders on Matt Reeves’ The Batman (2022), which is now in theaters. Retailers are listing the street date as 12/31. which of course is a placeholder. Our sources are telling us to expect the title to street in late June or early July (6/28 or 7/5 to be exact), but keep in mind that this is subject to change until WB makes their official announcement.
By the way, European retailers are also taking pre-orders on new Ultimate Collector’s Edition 4K Steelbooks of Batman (1989) and Batman Returns that are due to street in the UK on 6/6. They also have similar UCE 4K Steelbooks of Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, and The Dark Knight Rises coming in the UK on 5/30. There’s no word regarding a US release of any of these titles, but it’s possible that WB is still planning to announce them here. In any case, here’s a look at each of them—clicking on the image will take you to the Amazon.co.uk pre-order page (and keep in mind that the 4Ks are all region)...
And while we’re talking 4K, we have a quick update on David Fincher’s Panic Room. The title is apparently coming this year, but Sony studio sources tell me that it’s going to be sometime later in 2022. So adjust your plans accordingly.
In terms of actual announcements, Scream Factory has revealed that their forthcoming Blu-ray release of the Hammer Films classic Night Creatures (1963) will feature a new 2K scan of the interpositive, a new commentary with historian Bruce Hallenbeck, and three new featurettes (Pulp Friction: The Cinematic Captain Clegg, The Hammer Must Fall: Peter Cushing’s Changing Directions, and Brian with Bowie) in addition to a pair of legacy featurettes (The Making of Captain Clegg and The Mossman Legacy: George Mossman’s Carriage Collection), a trailer, and a still gallery. Street date for the title is 4/19.
Universal has officially announced the Blu-ray and DVD release of Marry Me on 3/29, with the Digital release due on 3/13. Extras will include 8 deleted scenes, a gag reel, 5 featurettes, and audio commentary with the director and producer.
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set Pedro Almodóvar’s Parallel Mothers for release on Blu-ray and DVD on 4/5.
Blue Underground has set William Lustig’s Uncle Sam (1997) for release on 4K Ultra HD on 6/21. The release will include a new 4K restoration of the original camera negative with Dolby Vision HDR and both Dolby Atmos and DTS-HD MA audio, a pair of audio commentaries (one with Lustig, Larry Cohen and George G. Braunstein, and another with Lustig and Isaac Hayes), a deleted scene, a gag reel, the trailer, a poster and still gallery, and a Fire Stunts featurette with Spiro Razatos.
RLJ Entertainment has announced its April release slate, which is set to include Creation Stories (DVD), Deadhouse Dark (DVD), The Meaning of Hitler (DVD), and Vicious Fun (Blu-ray and DVD) on 4/5, Last Looks (Blu-ray and DVD) and The Novice (DVD) on 4/12, Bleed with Me (DVD), Dating & New York (DVD), Falling for Figaro (DVD), Under the Vines: Series 1 (DVD), and V/H/S/94 (Blu-ray and DVD) on 4/19, and The Beast Must Die (DVD) and Queens of Mystery: Season 2 (DVD) on 4/26.
And ViaVision Entertainment has set Chapelwaite: Season One and The Spanish Princess: The Complete Series for release on Blu-ray and DVD in Australia on 4/20.
Finally today, we need to take a moment to acknowledge the passing last week of Alan Ladd Jr., an American film executive and producer who, as president of 20th Century Fox Studios in the late 1970s, was the man who green-lit and then staked his reputation on standing by George Lucas’ Star Wars. It’s quite likely that there would be no Star Wars today without his faith in Lucas. Ladd later formed The Ladd Company and worked at MGM/UA. Among the other films he produced or had a hand in are such gems as Alien, Blade Runner, The Right Stuff, Chariots of Fire, and Braveheart. Ladd was 84. Film fans everywhere owe him a great debt. You can read more about him here.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned...
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