What’s more, as recently as late last year, Cameron was hinting on social media that he still had yet to approve new transfers and color timing, but he’d just been too busy. So about two weeks ago, and pretty publically on my Twitter page, I posted this...
And goddamnit, I tagged James Cameron on it. Because I’m really tired of talking about these films not being released on Blu-ray and anamorphic DVD when they should have been years ago. I’ve just had my damn fill of the subject, so much that I almost stopped caring.
Let’s just say, the response from readers on social media at the time was... strong.
Jump ahead to today. I’m reading my Twitter feed over my coffee this morning, when I see that a Bits reader named Ray Hahn (thanks Ray!) shared this post from professional film colorist Skip Kimball of Deluxe’s EFilm (the colorist for Avatar among other Cameron films) on Instagram...
It was posted on Sunday, and it clearly references a new color grade of the new 4K scan of The Abyss that is finally happening. And yes, presumably for both Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD release, this year, for the film’s 30th anniversary.
Now... I don’t know if the one had anything to do with the other, but I’ll take it either way. I also don’t know which cut or cuts of the film are being graded (hopefully all of them), so don’t ask me. I don’t know when the release is coming, so don’t ask me (though the actual anniversary is 8/9, so presumably around then). And I don’t know if True Lies is coming too yet or not, so don’t ask me.
BUT... this appears to be semi-official confirmation that The Abyss on BD and 4K is FINALLY FUCKING HAPPENING. Naturally, I’ll believe it when I see it. But I’m encouraged. I will, of course, let you know more as soon as I do. LOL.
All right, meanwhile...
Also, we have a couple of great new announcements...
Shout! Factory has just announced that their next Shout Select Collector’s Edition will be Scott Hicks’ Snow Falling on Cedars (1999), due on 6/18.
Meanwhile, Scream Factory is releasing some great 1950s B-grade horror and sci-fi classics in June as well, including The Monolith Monsters (1957) on 6/18, and This Island Earth (1955 – 2 1/2 years in the making!) and Monster on the Campus (1958) on 6/25! Also newly announced by Scream is a Collector’s Edition of The Entity (1983) on 6/11. You can see some of the cover artwork below.
And back to 20th Century Fox for a moment... the studio has just officially set The Kid Who Would Be King for release on Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K Ultra HD on 4/16. Audio will be Dolby Atmos on the 4K only. Extras on the Blu-ray versions will include deleted scenes, 3 featurettes (Origins of a King, Young Knights, and Hair, Makeup & Costume Tests), 4 Merlin’s Magic clips (Knight School, The Two Merlins, Meet Morgana, and Movie Magic), and Lay Lay’s Be the King music video. We’ve added the title to our 4K Ultra HD Release List accordingly.
Here’s that cover artwork I mentioned above, with Amazon links if they exist (we’ll add more as they go live)...
That’s all for now. Stay tuned...!
(You can follow Bill on social media at these links: Twitter and Facebook)