Here’s something fun: Our friends at Kino Lorber Studio Classics have just revealed that Simon Wincer’s The Phantom (1996) is “coming soon” to 4K Ultra HD. This is a Paramount title, and you can bet that other such 4K catalog films will follow.

It’s worth pointing out that there are a number of Paramount films already available in 4K Digital but not yet on 4K disc, and it’s our belief that KLSC is going to eventually release a number of them. Examples include (but are not limited to) The Saint (1997), True Grit (1969), and Enemy at the Gates (2001).

By the way, also newly revealed by KLSC is are a “coming soon” Blu-ray of David Engelbach’s America 3000 (1986) and the 7/22 4K release of Mario Bava’s Danger: Diabolik (1968).

In other news today, I have good word: I’ve officially confirmed—directly with Warner Bros. Discovery Home Entertainment—that all of the films in the new 007: Sean Connery 6-Film Collection 4K Ultra HD box set (due on 6/10), are new HDR masters derived from brand-new 4K scans of the original camera negatives performed last year by MGM. The Atmos mixes are new as well, and not merely up-mixes of the old 5.1 tracks. So these films should really look and sound fantastic on 4K disc.

I’ve also heard back officially today from Universal about their new Jurassic Park 4K Trilogy Steelbook release, due on 6/17 (along with a Jurassic World 4K Trilogy Steelbook), and here the news isn’t quite so positive. The new Dolby Vision presentations are simply upgrades of the existing 4K masters already released on UHD in 2018, simply with new color grades. So these do not involve new 4K scans, just new color grading. However, the Atmos mixes for all three films are genuinely new, having been recently re-mixed at Skywalker Sound from the original audio stems. So while it’s good news on the audio front, it’s less so on the video side of things.

All right… in other news, it’s being reported elsewhere online that Universal is getting ready to release the complete CBS TV series Murder, She Wrote (1984-96) on Blu-ray Disc. That is certainly possible, but I’ve yet to find an official source that confirms it (I’m still waiting to hear back from studio reps on the matter). The Universal Pictures Home Entertainment website does currently show a listing for a new Murder, She Wrote: The Complete Series SKU with a street date of 5/20 (click here for that), but there’s nothing to indicate that it’s a Blu-ray release at the moment. And the listing shows the package will include 62 discs, which is just one less than the existing DVD box set. We do know that Frank Tarzi has said KLSC turned down the option to release the series on Blu-ray, and seasons of the show are available on the format internationally, so it’s certainly possible that Universal is planning a box set. But no retailers have listed the title yet as of the time of this writing. With a street date of 5/20, just over two weeks away, that seems odd. So while this could be a Blu-ray release, it could also be just a DVD re-issue that gives the studio time to get their Blu-ray ducks lined up in a row. Fingers crossed, we’ll know more soon. And rest assured, I’ll add an update here when and if I hear back from the studio.

Also today, Kino Lorber is promoting new theatrical screenings of Bernardo Bertolucci’s Little Buddha (1993) in New York City on 5/9 and in LA on 5/16. The film has recently been restored in 4K by Italy’s Cinecittà Studios SpA from the separation masters under the supervision of cinematographer Vittorio Storaro. And indeed, Kino Lorber Studio Classics has already revealed that they’re working on a physical 4K release in the months ahead.

Finally today, I had the great pleasure of attending the Beyond Fest world premiere screening of Ridley Scott’s Kingdom of Heaven: Director’s Cut at the Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood on Friday night. And let me tell you, the new 4K DCP is absolutely stunning. If the theatrical experience is in any way representative of the 4K home theater experience on disc, which is due to street on 5/17 with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio, we’re all in for a real treat.

Our friend Steve Asbell, who many of you will know is the president of 20th Century Studios, introduced the screening and confirmed that the restoration was a seven month process overseen by Kevin Schaeffer, Director of Restoration & Library Management at Walt Disney Studios. And everything was reportedly done to Ridley Scott’s specifications. Scott even recorded a video introduction from the set of his new film The Dog Stars, just for the screening. Interestingly, the Egyptian presentation was the straight Director’s Cut—not the Roadshow Version, which includes a musical Overture and Entr’acte, as well as an intermission break (the Roadshow Version will be included on the 4K disc). It’s apparently screening nationally on 5/14 (see the AMC listing here), so you’ll all have the chance to see it in theaters before the disc arrives. And let me tell you: The big screen experience is worth it.

Thanks to everyone at 20th Century Studios, Disney, the Egyptian, and Beyond Fest for putting on a terrific event. And a special shout out to Steve Asbell, who’s a great cinephile in addition to being a fine studio executive, as well as just plain good people.

All right, that’s all for today. Back tomorrow with more.

Stay tuned!

- Bill Hunt

(You can follow Bill on social media on Twitter, BlueSky, and Facebook, and also here on Patreon)