In announcement news, Universal has set Ride Along 2 for Blu-ray and DVD release on 4/26, with the Digital HD release set for 4/12. Extras on both disc versions are going to include audio commentary with director Tim Story, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and 4 featurettes (Ride Along with Us, Behind the Scenes of Ride Along with Us, Kevin & Cube: Brothers-in-Law, and Inside Black Hammer Vision). To this, the Blu-ray will exclusively add 5 more featurettes (The Ride Along Roundtable, The Ride Diaries, The New Recruits, Ride Along With Kevin Hart, and Cori’s Wedding Commercial).
Paramount has set Daddy’s Home for Blu-ray Combo release on 3/22, with the Digital HD release set for 3/8. Extras will include 7 featurettes, a blooper, and deleted and extended scenes.
Lionsgate has set Sniper: Special Ops for DVD and digital release on 5/3. The film stars Steven Seagal.
Anchor Bay Entertainment has What Lola Wants coming to Digital HD on 4/8, followed by DVD on 4/19.
And finally, we have word from Film Ratings.com that Warner Home Entertainment and director Zack Snyder have created an R-rated version of their upcoming Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice which they’re calling the Ultimate Edition. This is no doubt intended for Blu-ray, DVD, and 4K UHD release, because the same site refers to a PG-13 cut of the film from Warner Bros. Pictures intended for wide theatrical release.
By the way, retail sources are suggesting that the digital release for Disney’s Star Wars: The Force Awakens is likely to be 3/15 or 3/29, given the widely anticipated 4/5 street date for the physical media versions (Blu-ray, DVD, and possibly Blu-ray 3D). It’s not yet known when Disney will begin supporting 4K UHD, though it’s worth noting that they are members of the Ultra HD Alliance.
Finally today, we’d like to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of veteran British cinematographer Douglas Slocombe on Monday. He was 103. Slocombe began his film career at the famed Ealing Studios. Among his most notable later works are such films as The Italian Job, Jesus Christ Superstar, Rollerball, the Bond film Never Say Never Again, The Great Gatsby, The Blue Max (one of my favorites), The Lion in Winter, and, of course, the first three Indiana Jones films. He will surely be missed. You can read more here at The Guardian.
We’ll leave you with a look at a bit more new Blu-ray cover artwork...
Stay tuned...
- Bill Hunt (@BillHuntBits)