Annihilation (4K Blu-ray SteelBook) (Astro Creations Exclusive 002) [UK]

[samdavies]

Release date: Q2 2026
Purchase links: One Click - Full Slip XL A - Full Slip XL B - S&S
Price: £144.99 (One Click) - £49.99 (FS XL A&B) - £29.99 (S&S Slim Slip)
Group buy: By @samdavies - One Click - XL A - XL B - S&S

Notes:
- One Click Box: Spot Gloss, Spot Matte, Spot Embossed.
- XL A FS: Soft & Sense Touch, Spot Gloss, Spot Embossed.
- XL B FS: Soft & Sense Touch, Spot Gloss, Spot Embossed.
- S&S Slim Slip: Soft Touch, Spot Gloss, Spot Embossed.
- 4K Blu-ray Steelbook: Full Gloss, Twin Em/Debossed.

Spoiler

 

[Scoreback]

Starting to get a feeling that Astro might be done with premium releases after this, considering how much work and delay this release has. 6 months past schedule, packing everything by hand, backlash around moving GB to else where.

 

[AlexC24]

Starting to get a feeling that Astro might be done with premium releases after this, considering how much work and delay this release has. 6 months past schedule, packing everything by hand, backlash around moving GB to else where.

If that ends up being the case I won't be losing a wink of sleep over it as I wasn't planning on purchasing another title from them ever again anyway. This decision has nothing to do with the MP partnership debacle as I couldn't care less about the politics of that rubbish but everything to do with the fact that having to wait almost a year (and God knows how much longer) for a preorder to reach my doorstep has effectively tanked any goodwill I initially had with the company, especially when the targeted release date was intended to be in January. I know there are collectors out there that are willing to wait years for certain premium editions to reach them but that is some next level patience that I do not understand and will never possess.

 

[leelee17]

Preordered my XL direct in August, now June....
I get that it's a lengthy process for Dan to get this processed assembled and sent out, plus it's still early days, being only his 2nd release, however, from a buyers point of view, it's been a while...

 

[matthewtheunicorn]

I always thought announcing a pre-order alongside in hand photos was the most honourable way of doing things anyway. Hopefully it's an approach Astro will consider

 

[crib79]

Preordered my XL direct in August, now June....
I get that it's a lengthy process for Dan to get this processed assembled and sent out, plus it's still early days, being only his 2nd release, however, from a buyers point of view, it's been a while...

Been waiting far longer for the Star Wars sets. Not that I'm concerned, Dan always comes good in the end, just takes time as he's a one man band who is working all hours to get things done.

 

[sbarker]

If that ends up being the case I won't be losing a wink of sleep over it as I wasn't planning on purchasing another title from them ever again anyway. This decision has nothing to do with the MP partnership debacle as I couldn't care less about the politics of that rubbish but everything to do with the fact that having to wait almost a year (and God knows how much longer) for a preorder to reach my doorstep has effectively tanked any goodwill I initially had with the company, especially when the targeted release date was intended to be in January. I know there are collectors out there that are willing to wait years for certain premium editions to reach them but that is some next level patience that I do not understand and will never possess.

None of us want to wait months or years for a release but what did you really expect from someone starting something up on this scale? A flawless experience with a guaranteed release date? Economy is that way and even then they screw that up on occasion despite being large corporations, even the established premium labels with years of experience and well established production lines screw up.

Yes AC can and should do better but I am willing to tolerate a slower release when it results in a better product or at least if I feel like they're acting in good faith, it's why I have some patience for AC and none at all for outfits like CM who have taken advantage of their customers.

 

[sbarker]

I always thought announcing a pre-order alongside in hand photos was the most honourable way of doing things anyway. Hopefully it's an approach Astro will consider

Would be nice but I imagine the hurdle is having to front all the production costs in advance, that's quite a burden for an individual or a new company without backing.

 

[samdavies]

I know most of you don't know Dan personally, so I appreciate I'm in a different position in that respect, but I'm not concerned about the delivery of Annihilation. I have after all also bought a copy of XLA (I didn't have it free), although I obviously don't like the 10 month preorder to dispatch waiting window either.

That being said, had this been another retailer (other than probably Blufans tbh) I'd likely be mirroring many of these thoughts, particularly after the trouble with FAC, and the worries with HDZ, before they both effectively ceased.

There were a fair few blocks with Paramount's sign-off initially, then delays when they went through that Skydance merger. A few minor hiccups with Scanavo on the first lot of steel proofs, but mainly it's been the slip manufacturing with this one. It has been a slow trial & error process to get to the finished product.

The last I heard there were 5 more Paramount titles due to be locked in (if they haven't been already), and the 3 heading for a full OC set format are great imo. None of the 5 mentioned have had a premium release as of yet either, so that's a plus too imo.

Given what he knows now, I'd hope the slip issues don't repeat on the next title, so I would try and not count him out just yet.

 

[leelee17]

I am confident the long wait for this will be rewarded.
I'm sure, going forward, Dan won't disappoint, not like other companies releasing lacklustre sets...

 

[Flloydo]

I’m personally getting sick of the wait BUT I’m seasoned with this game, it’s not like I’ve had to wait this long before with either Blufans or CM and I completely understand the issues faced with it being only Astros 2nd release. And I know he eventually delivers so I’m cool for now and I have similar thoughts to Sam with it (who’s dealing with this very diplomatically I must say). So it’s fine to a degree. But this is also a part of why I don’t order with CM (the other parts which are very big parts are he’s a crook, a thief and pricey) so it’s also very different situation to CM, so I can’t stress this enough, I’m not comparing them. Only the wait times but I’m chucking Blufans in with that mix too who I 100% fully trust as a retailer.

If this was a few years down the line and a few releases later then yeah I’d be fuming. I’m not fuming at the moment. This isn’t a rant either. Just eager because it has been a while but it’s also fine for anyone to voice their concerns here. Good or bad. Calm or stressed.

Interested to see what the other 5 titles are, and I just hope things improve along the way. Yeah you can’t do anything about the studio interference and the back and forth and getting stuff signed off with those time frames etc I mean the rest of it. And I’m not getting back Into the whole other issue with the other site but I just hope that’s being looked into for international buyers.

 

[TheWildEye]

It'll get here eventually. It's not like it's an imported Italian sports car that cost you €300,000.

Whoever said it earlier in the thread, had it right - Say to yourself, it'll arrive sometime in the Summer and you'll get a nice surprise.

It all comes good in the end.

 

[Lutzo]

I think the delay will even work in its favour long term. That OneClick will be one of the hottest items out there eventually and I think the main beef with folks like FAC and CM is the lying and complete lack of transparency (PLUS scalping of their own stuff...), not necessarily the delays. Delays happen and often stuff is beyond anybodies control, but at least I always felt that I knew why it was delayed and I have zero doubt that all editions will show up eventually and will be great!

Additionally, receiving the S&S even caught me by surprise, because I bought all 3 editions direct (and OneClick from GB here) and wouldn't have minded waiting for all 3 of them to arrive together. I think I also only paid for shipping once, so receiving the only available one already is another bonus and adds additional trust in @AstroC13 .

 

[Mr.Pink]

I get the frustration but got to have patience in the premium game, I just see it as it'll turn up eventually.

 

[nekromantik]

yeah this wait has been very annoying
maybe for a premium release this should had less options and just 2 editions plus the one click.

 

[Roofr4sh]

Don't understand why an updated message on here can't be made, on current situation. If they didn't dispatch last week like he said they would be, a 2 minute message update saying this week or next week would suffice.
No need to spend ages replying here, but an update is important.
He has the items so it must only be packing them that's causing a delay, i assume he has a full time job and is finding it hard to do both.

No idea if anything is on his socials but i don't entertain those avenues.

 

[hatredhorror]

 

[tha_lunatic]

i smell cinemuseum delay

 

[TheWildEye]

Don't understand why an updated message on here can't be made, on current situation. If they didn't dispatch last week like he said they would be, a 2 minute message update saying this week or next week would suffice.
No need to spend ages replying here, but an update is important.
He has the items so it must only be packing them that's causing a delay, i assume he has a full time job and is finding it hard to do both.

No idea if anything is on his socials but i don't entertain those avenues.

yeah this wait has been very annoying
maybe for a premium release this should had less options and just 2 editions plus the one click.

If that ends up being the case I won't be losing a wink of sleep over it as I wasn't planning on purchasing another title from them ever again anyway. This decision has nothing to do with the MP partnership debacle as I couldn't care less about the politics of that rubbish but everything to do with the fact that having to wait almost a year (and God knows how much longer) for a preorder to reach my doorstep has effectively tanked any goodwill I initially had with the company, especially when the targeted release date was intended to be in January. I know there are collectors out there that are willing to wait years for certain premium editions to reach them but that is some next level patience that I do not understand and will never possess.

Guys, if y'all concerned, he's got an email on his website.
Just use that. I found he's very receptive to responding.
Personally I'm happy to wait, it's been long enough, another few days isn't going to chap my knickers.

If you want information then email him via his site.

 

[GeoRattray]

 

[AlexC24]

The intent of my OP wasn't to insinuate that AC is pulling a grift or being willfully dishonest about where we stand with the release or even questioning the dude's character because I'm well aware that my edition will arrive freshly packaged someday. I was merely voicing a personal grievance about the inordinate wait time I've acutely experienced with this release because I've managed to proactively avoid inordinate wait times in this business up until now and one I don't intend on experiencing again.

It's difficult to trust that their next endeavor will demonstrate an improvement in efficiency because if memory serves I do recall that sometime after all orders of the Lone Survivor edition had been fulfilled, AC made a personal declaration that their next production would move along much more expeditiously when in actuality the opposite has been true. So that fact alone has put me off from doing repeat business with them.