Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (4K+2D Blu-ray SteelBook) (Zavvi Exclusive) [UK]

IRON MAN

E.D.I.T.H.
Super Moderator
Premium Supporter
Dec 28, 2012
39,387
Everywhere
Release date: November 23, 2020
Purchase link: Zavvi (Pre-order on August 13 at 9 AM for Red Carpet, at 12 PM general sale - UK time)
Price: £29.99

12663349-1074788295396560.jpg

12663349-3604788295670019.jpg
12663349-8194788295737567.jpg
 
Last edited:
Forbes: Disney Formally Denies That It’s Ditching 4K Blu-Ray Catalog Releases

For the past few days AV websites and forums have been awash with rumors suggesting that Disney has gone so cold on the 4K Blu-ray disc format that it’s no longer intending to produce 4K Blu-rays for the vast majority of its massive back catalog of movies. Including both live-action titles from its own archives, and all the catalog movies it secured through its purchase of 20th Century Fox.

I’ve asked Disney to comment on these rumors, though, and the studio has issued me with a fairly blunt rebuttal. The statement - which I’m instructed to attribute to a Disney spokesperson - reads as follows:

“There are no plans to discontinue releases in a particular format. We evaluate each release on a case by case basis and pursue the best strategy to bring our content into consumer homes across platforms that meet a variety of demands.”

You can, of course, try to read all sorts of things into some of these words if you want to. For instance, maybe in evaluating each catalog release on a case by case basis Disney could decide more often than not that a title being considered don’t seem right for 4K Blu-ray.

The statement’s opening line, though, reads like a pretty categorical denial of the sort of predetermined anti 4K Blu-ray policy that the recent rumors mention.

I guess you could also raise an eyebrow, too, about the quote coming from ‘a Disney spokesperson’ rather than a named employee. However, on this front I can say that having got an initial rebuttal of the rumors from a contact at Disney who also used to be involved in the old 20th Century Fox business, I then asked that contact if they could obtain a more formal statement with full Disney backing. Which led to the release of the statement I quoted earlier.

For the full background on the rumors that Disney is responding to, The Digital Bits’ Bill Hunt as usual provides the most detailed coverage. And it’s pretty easy, in truth, to reinforce that narrative with other possible signs of Disney not being especially enthusiastic about 4K Blu-ray. Such as, say, its decision to ditch Dolby Vision from its 4K discs, its consistent use of BD60 discs for 4K Blu-ray releases rather than larger capacity BD100s, and the bizarre way it summarily dumped a large number of Marvel movies out on 4K Blu-ray on one day last year with minimal marketing fanfare.

There didn’t seem to be much doubt in any of the recent rumors, though, that Disney was still committed to releasing 4K Blu-rays of its latest blockbuster releases, as well as classic animated catalog titles that haven’t yet received the 4K BD treatment. The rumors also suggested that Disney wasn’t likely to pass up the chance to release James Cameron’s Fox movies on 4K Blu-ray once the director gets round to sorting the remasters out. (Hopefully we won’t have to wait until he’s released the final Avatar movie!)

Disney’s official statement today, though, surely at least raises hopes that lots more Disney/Fox golden oldies might still get the 4K Blu-ray treatment after all.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
  • Informative
Reactions: jailbird_joey
Well I've grabbed it, but none of the codes worked for me. I haven't managed to make use of any no matter how early I've tried to order.
 
Really not a fan of the artwork for this film but will say this is probably the best pick! I wonder what art they'd choose if BluFans ever release it