We’ve confirmed that the copyright to the film belongs to Costner’s production company, Territory Pictures (formerly Tig Productions). US distribution is likely owned by Amazon MGM Studios—Warner Bros. no longer has any distribution rights to the film. So it’s possible that a 4K disc will be forthcoming from Amazon MGM via their physical media distributor, Alliance Entertainment. It’s also possible that European or UK rights will be picked up by another distributor. Here’s hoping that Amazon MGM and Alliance get their ducks lined up and announce proper 4K disc release soon. You can read more here at Variety and here at the Locarno festival website.
And while you’re at it Amazon/Alliance… how about releasing Ken Hughes’ Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Roland Emmerich’s Stargate (1994), and more Bond catalog films in 4K Ultra HD as well? The MGM library has SO MANY GREAT FILMS that deserve 4K Ultra HD disc release, that there’s just no excuse for the lack of announcements on that front by the studio. Let’s GO, people!
Also today, Universal Studios has set Paul Greengrass’ United 93 (2006) for 4K UHD release on 8/25. They also have a new The Fast and the Furious: 25th Anniversary Edition coming that same day.
Some of you may have seen this, but there’s a new 20th Century Studios film coming to 4K Ultra HD: Zach Cregger’s Barbarian (2022). We told subscribers about this months ago on The Bits’ Patreon (click here to subscribe there—and you definitely should!), and it looks like Disney has finally announced the release for 8/11. Look for it to arrive in Steelbook packaging. Fingers crossed, Disney has more 4K catalog titles to announce soon, because their 2026 4K catalog slate has been very underwhelming thus far.
Meanwhile, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment has set Richard Rich’s The Swan Princess (1994) for 4K Ultra HD release on 8/18.
Also today, we told you recently that Warner’s 4K Ultra HD release of Practical Magic (1998) is coming on 8/25, in both wide release and Steelbook packaging. Well, it looks like Amazon UK, Gruv, and other online retailers are beginning to tease another Warner catalog title that we’ve been expecting: Frank Oz’s Little Shop of Horrors (1986), which will include both the Theatrical and Director’s Cuts of the film. As you know, retailers have also been teasing Interview with the Vampire (1994) in 4K UHD. The street date for both titles is TBA, but we wouldn’t be surprised if they arrived in late September or early October, in time for Halloween.
And finally, some of you have been asking whether the new Paramount 4K Steelbook editions of Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival (2016) and Alex Garland’s Annihilation (2018), streeting on 9/8, are new discs with Dolby Vision HDR or not. The reason people are asking, is that the product images being used to tease the release on Amazon show the Dolby Vision logo. However, I’ve been able to confirm that these new 4K Steelbooks are essentially the exact same 4K discs that Paramount released previously, just repackaged. So if they didn’t have Dolby Vision before, they don’t have it now. Just so you all know. Adjust your plans accordingly.
That’s all for now! Stay tuned…
- Bill Hunt
(You can follow Bill on social media on Twitter/X, BlueSky, and Facebook, and also here on Patreon)