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MajorZero
April 17th, 2008, 09:44 AM
Universal Unveils Blu-ray Disc Plans

http://www.homemediamagazine.com/cmt_images/12534_news_image.jpg

Universal’s international Blu-ray slate will consist of 29 titles this year, including the five big theatricals as well as such catalog titles as The Mummy, Gladiator, American Gangster, Miami Vice, Casino and The Thing. Source (http://www.homemediamagazine.com/)

Heroes: Season Two Will Mark the Studio's First Global Event Release

UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., April 17 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Studios Home Entertainment revealed its initial lineup of film and television properties arriving later this year on Blu-ray(TM) Disc, day and date with DVD, it was announced today by Craig Kornblau, President, Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Pictures Digital Platforms. Marking the rollout of the studio's first global release on Blu-ray(TM) will be the "Heroes: Season Two," which will debut beginning August 26, 2008.

The highly anticipated premier of the sophomore season of NBC's "Heroes" will be buoyed by the simultaneous debut of "Heroes Season One" on Blu-ray(TM). Later in the year and in time for the holidays, five of the year's most promising feature films will arrive in high definition: THE INCREDIBLE HULK, the action-packed new chapter of one of the most popular Super Hero sagas of all time that stars Edward Norton, William Hurt and Liv Tyler; Wanted, the action-thriller from stunning visualist director Timur Bekmambetov that stars Morgan Freeman, James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie; Hellboy II: The Golden Army, the epic vision of imagination from acclaimed director Guillermo del Toro; Mamma Mia!, the musical romantic comedy in which Meryl Streep leads an all-star cast in the adaptation of the beloved musical; and The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor, the next installment in The Mummy franchise in which Jet Li, Maria Bello, Michelle Yeoh and newcomer Luke Ford join the returning Brendan Fraser and John Hannah for a supernatural adventure that shifts the series to the Far East.

"We are thrilled that our preliminary slate of Blu-ray(TM) offerings comprises such a brilliant collection of high-def centric fare," said Mr. Kornblau. "As awareness for Blu-ray(TM) continues to grow, consumers will learn to rely on the superior quality picture, sound, interactivity and connectivity that only high-definition home entertainment delivers."

The first wave of Universal Blu-ray(TM) releases, which hits U.S. stores July 22nd, gives fans of The Mummy franchise a chance to relive the iconic blockbuster films' thrilling beginnings in crystal-clear high-definition. The Mummy and The Mummy Returns, starring Brendan Fraser, and the hugely successful action-packed spin-off The Scorpion King, starring Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, all will be released on Blu-ray(TM) for the first time that day.

The first of Universal's new theatrical Blu-ray(TM) releases hitting store shelves this summer day and date with its DVD counterpart is the apocalyptic thrill-ride DOOMSDAY, starring Rhona Mitra, Malcolm McDowell and Bob Hoskins. Other titles on deck for 2008 include American Gangster, Knocked Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Miami Vice, End of Days, U-571 and Land of the Dead, among others.

Furthering Universal's aggressive rollout of Blu-ray(TM) product globally, Universal Pictures International Entertainment, the company's international home entertainment arm, is concurrently announcing its initial slate of Blu-ray(TM) releases for the international marketplace today. Source (http://www.thedigitalbits.com/#mytwocents)

Universal joining Blu-ray bandwagon in the summer

Thu Apr 17, 2008 7:34am BST
LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter)

Universal Studios, once Hollywood's top backer of the doomed HD DVD video format, will soon release all its new videos on the victorious Blu-ray rival at the same time as its standard DVDs.

The studio is set to announce Thursday that the program will kick off in the summer with the recent box office flop "Doomsday."

Universal's Blu-ray strategy includes plans to release about 40 titles in the second half of the year.

Among them are the studio's five big feature films of the summer, including "The Incredible Hulk," with Edward Norton, William Hurt and Liv Tyler; "Wanted," an action thriller starring James McAvoy and Angelina Jolie; "Hellboy II: The Golden Army"; "Mamma Mia," the adaptation of the musical starring Meryl Streep; and the sequel "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor," with Brendan Fraser and Jet Li.

Universal officially will enter the Blu-ray market July 22 with a trio of films from its "Mummy" action-adventure franchise: "The Mummy" and "The Mummy Returns," both starring Fraser, and the spinoff "The Scorpion King," with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

Also planned for domestic Blu-ray before the year is up are the catalog titles "American Gangster," "Knocked Up," "The 40-Year-Old Virgin," "Miami Vice," "End of Days," "U-571" and "Land of the Dead," among others.

Universal had been HD DVD's biggest studio backer ever since the next-generation optical disc format came to market in April 2006. But when Toshiba pulled the plug on the format in February, the studio wasted no time switching its allegiance to Sony's Blu-ray.

(Reuters/Hollywood Reporter)
Source (http://uk.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUKN1740482320080417)

List of titles coming from Universal for this year:
American Gangster
Doomsday (July 22nd)
End of Days
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Heroes: Season 1 (August 26th)
Heroes: Season 2 (August 26th)
Knocked Up
Land of the Dead
Miami Vice
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
The Incredible Hulk
The Mummy (July 22nd)
The Mummy Returns (July 22nd)
The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The Scorpion King (July 22nd)
U-571
WantedInternational Releases from Universal for this year:

American Gangster
Casino
Gladiator
The Mummy
The ThingFinally, now we can look forward to Universal Blu's in the summer.

RedDragon7
April 17th, 2008, 09:50 AM
Great news, glad to hear they're going to officially pump out the Blu-rays very soon.









Still want Transformers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:evil:

THUGGEDOUT
April 17th, 2008, 09:50 AM
Cool, Hellboy II:The Golden Army is a movie I am looking forward to watching and getting on BR.

MajorZero
April 17th, 2008, 09:53 AM
I am thinking that American Gangster might be out on Blu in October, because not only will October mark its 1 year anniversary, it will also be the month that Ridley Scott's new movie Body of Lies will be released theatrically.

kopkiwi
April 17th, 2008, 10:21 AM
Some good movies there to be picked up. Can't wait for Hot Fuzz and The Bourne Trilogy though. With HD audio that trilogy will kick some major arse.

BioXhazXarD
April 17th, 2008, 10:53 AM
I've been doing pretty good buying all the Blu-rays I want on release date.. I bet I'm going to get behind again real soon with Universal and hopefully Paramount coming aboard this summer.. Not to mention all the Ps3 games! But great news nevertheless!

FdMstng99
April 17th, 2008, 12:26 PM
Very awesome news, I need to add more Blu-Ray's to my collection. ;)

Don_Tezy
April 17th, 2008, 12:48 PM
Hulk, yes .. yes .. yeeeeeessss .... Hell Boy 2 .. yes, yes .. yesssssss .... Paramount does need to get on the bandwagon for real because i want Iron Man on Blu before this year is over with. Come on Paramount, you can do it, and yeah, you need to release Transformers on Blu asap.

admartian
April 17th, 2008, 12:57 PM
Excellent news, and glad to hear that it's official. :D

Still waiting on Hot Fuzz, 40 Year Old and Transformers though. But I;m sure they'll come out on Blu.

IWAO
April 17th, 2008, 02:15 PM
It's nice to hear, that they'll also join the Blu-ray studios!

MajorZero
April 17th, 2008, 06:31 PM
Added the Official Press Release to the OP; here's the list of titles coming from Universal for this year:
American Gangster
Casino
Doomsday (July 22nd)
End of Days
Gladiator
Hellboy 2: The Golden Army
Heroes: Season 1 (August 26th)
Heroes: Season 2 (August 26th)
Knocked Up
Land of the Dead
Miami Vice
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
The Incredible Hulk
The Mummy (July 22nd)
The Mummy Returns (July 22nd)
The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor
The Scorpion King (July 22nd)
The Thing
U-571
Wanted

sorrow880
April 17th, 2008, 07:12 PM
Awesome news. I'm really enjoying my blu-ray collection. I've been struggling keeping up with all the games and movies.

Anyhow, I'm glad to see Universal throw full support behind blu-ray. I'm looking forward to many of their flicks.

Parasitic
April 17th, 2008, 07:22 PM
No Bourne!!! Ah well I'll settle for what they have to offer :)

bobtheduck
April 17th, 2008, 07:48 PM
About time... Unfortunately, Hot Fuzz is niche and catalogue... We won't likely see that hit blu for years... I am crying... Trust me, it's my favorite comedy.

vudumonkey25
April 17th, 2008, 07:48 PM
sweet news, going to have to pick up all the mummies, my sister loves those movies

MajorZero
April 17th, 2008, 07:52 PM
I think we can expect Dawn of the Dead this year also. If they are going to release Land of the Dead this year, might aswell release Dawn of the Dead. Weinstein will most likely be releasing Diary of the Dead around the same time aswell when they start up on Blu too.

phalanges
April 17th, 2008, 09:47 PM
Good to see them releasing titles for BR, but where's the Bourne series?

noethix
April 17th, 2008, 10:17 PM
Noone's excited for Heroes? Love em.

MajorZero
April 17th, 2008, 11:28 PM
Alright got some more news on some of the releases from Universal this year. These are some big one's too.

Universal’s international Blu-ray slate will consist of 29 titles this year, including the five big theatricals as well as such catalog titles as The Mummy, Gladiator, American Gangster, Miami Vice, Casino and The Thing. Source (http://www.homemediamagazine.com/)

OMG!!! Gladiator!!!

the_End
April 17th, 2008, 11:38 PM
Awesome but ****! I have to wait so long for Heroes but the good thing is it's out on my birthday. My parents know that I like to buy Blu-Ray movies so hopefully I'll get both seasons. Can't wait for Volume 3 in September, 2 hour Season Premiere!!!

FinalEvangelion
April 18th, 2008, 12:20 AM
Great news. So is Paramount still tied to the HD DVD corpse until the end of this calendar year?

MajorZero
April 18th, 2008, 12:24 AM
Great news. So is Paramount still tied to the HD DVD corpse until the end of this calendar year?

No, we should be hearing an announcement from them pretty soon. They might even be able to release earlier then Universal, like in June maybe.

lorddct
April 18th, 2008, 01:23 AM
I can finally have my American Gangster, Serenity and Bourne fix!!!!!

slash310
April 18th, 2008, 04:29 AM
Heroes: Season 1 (August 26th)
Heroes: Season 2 (August 26th)
Finally!!! :D

sailordude1
April 24th, 2008, 04:54 AM
come on paramount, this is ridiculous. do they want to make some money or no?