Star Wars is coming to Blu-ray Disc Sept. 16 as a nine-disc set called “The Complete Saga” with 40-plus hours of bonus features, including some previously unseen materials and new documentaries. Overseas markets get a four-day jump on North America with the latest iteration of the franchise being introduced on Sept. 12 internationally.
The announcement comes just two weeks before Star Tours: The Adventure Continues in 3D attraction will open at Disney Hollywood Studios in Florida on May 20 and the Blu-ray release bonus features will be teased in a this fall will come just months before the first chapter in the Star Wars series in 3D will be re-released theatrically in 2012, the first of all six films to get the 3D treatment. The Blu-ray bonus features will be teased for the first time in July at San Diego Comic-Con during Lucasfilm’s 35th anniversary at the fan fest.
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment president Mike Dunn says the latest home release on a new format (not in 3D) proves that the Blu-ray format has come of age since George Lucas of Lucasfilm would not have approved the release until the high-def format achieved mainstream status.
<Story continues below the following video featuring audio of Dunn’s comments in a media briefing.>
In a media gathering at Panasonic Hollywood Labs and Innovation Center at Universal City in Los Angeles on “May the Fourth be with you,” Dunn also praised manufacturing partner Panasonic for impeccable mastering of high-profile films on Blu-ray such as “Avatar.”
The new set with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound features only the special editions of chapters 4-6 (the first three movies),which were also re-released in theaters in the 1990s.
In addition to the Complete Saga, two separate packages will be available featuring the first and second trilogies.
Following are details of the releases.
Special Features:
STAR WARS: THE COMPLETE SAGA ON BLU-RAY is presented in widescreen with 6.1 DTS Surround Sound. Special features include:
● DISC ONE – STAR WARS: EPISODE I THE PHANTOM MENACE
○ Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, John Knoll, Dennis Muren and Scott Squires
○ Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
● DISC TWO – STAR WARS: EPISODE II ATTACK OF THE CLONES
○ Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Ben Burtt, Rob Coleman, Pablo Helman, John Knoll and Ben Snow
○ Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
● DISC THREE – STAR WARS: EPISODE III REVENGE OF THE SITH
○ Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Rick McCallum, Rob Coleman, John Knoll and Roger Guyett
○ Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
● DISC FOUR – STAR WARS: EPISODE IV A NEW HOPE
○ Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
○ Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
● DISC FIVE – STAR WARS: EPISODE V THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
○ Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
○ Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
● DISC SIX – STAR WARS: EPISODE VI RETURN OF THE JEDI
○ Audio Commentary with George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, Ben Burtt and Dennis Muren
○ Audio Commentary from Archival Interviews with Cast and Crew
● DISC SEVEN – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES I-III
○ Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; a flythrough of the Lucasfilm Archives and more
● DISC EIGHT – NEW! STAR WARS ARCHIVES: EPISODES IV-VI
○ Including: deleted, extended and alternate scenes; prop, maquette and costume turnarounds; matte paintings and concept art; supplementary interviews with cast and crew; and more
● DISC NINE – THE STAR WARS DOCUMENTARIES
○ NEW! Star Warriors (2007, Color, Apx. 84 Minutes) – Some Star Wars fans want to collect action figures…these fans want to be action figures! A tribute to the 501st Legion, a global organization of Star Wars costume enthusiasts, this insightful documentary shows how the super-fan club promotes interest in the films through charity and volunteer work at fundraisers and high-profile special events around the world.
○ NEW! A Conversation with the Masters: The Empire Strikes Back 30 Years Later (2010, Color, Apx. 25 Minutes) – George Lucas, Irvin Kershner, Lawrence Kasdan and John Williams look back on the making of The Empire Strikes Back in this in-depth retrospective from Lucasfilm created to help commemorate the 30th anniversary of the movie. The masters discuss and reminisce about one of the most beloved films of all time.
○ NEW! Star Wars Spoofs (2011, Color, Apx. 91 Minutes) – The farce is strong with this one! Enjoy a hilarious collection of Star Wars spoofs and parodies that have been created over the years, including outrageous clips from Family Guy, The Simpsons, How I Met Your Mother and more — and don’t miss “Weird Al” Yankovic’s one-of-a-kind music video tribute to The Phantom Menace!
○ The Making of Star Wars (1977, Color, Apx. 49 Minutes) – Learn the incredible behind-the-scenes story of how the original Star Wars movie was brought to the big screen in this fascinating documentary hosted by C-3PO and R2-D2. Includes interviews with George Lucas and appearances by Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher.
○ The Empire Strikes Back: SPFX (1980, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Learn the secrets of making movies in a galaxy far, far away. Hosted by Mark Hamill, this revealing documentary offers behind-the-scenes glimpses into the amazing special effects that transformed George Lucas’ vision for Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back into reality!
○ Classic Creatures: Return of the Jedi (1983, Color, Apx. 48 Minutes) – Go behind the scenes — and into the costumes — as production footage from Return of the Jedi is interspersed with vintage monster movie clips in this in-depth exploration of the painstaking techniques utilized by George Lucas to create the classic creatures and characters seen in the film. Hosted and narrated by Carrie Fisher and Billie Dee Williams.
○ Anatomy of a Dewback (1997, Color, Apx. 26 Minutes) – See how some of the special effects in Star Wars became even more special two decades later! George Lucas explains and demonstrates how his team transformed the original dewback creatures from immovable rubber puppets (in the original 1977 release) to seemingly living, breathing creatures for the Star Wars 1997 Special Edition update.
○ Star Wars Tech (2007, Color, Apx. 46 Minutes) – Exploring the technical aspects of Star Wars vehicles, weapons and gadgetry, Star Wars Tech consults leading scientists in the fields of physics, prosthetics, lasers, engineering and astronomy to examine the plausibility of Star Wars technology based on science as we know it today.
— By Scott Hettrick