Universal Pictures Int'l Ramps Up Blu-ray -- Hulk First Up
By amoody
Created 08/27/2008 - 00:00
Universal Pictures International Ent. will release THE INCREDIBLE HULK on DVD and Blu-ray on October 13, marking the studio's first international day-and-date wide debut of a Blu-ray new release feature film.
The film will be released on DVD and Blu-ray in the U.S. on October 21.
From Marvel Studios, THE INCREDIBLE HULK, starring Edward Norton, Tim Roth and Liv Tyler has earned $250 million in worldwide box office. Bonus features on the Blu-ray will include the U-Control application and interactive features via BD-Live.
Eddie Cunningham, President of Universal Pictures International said, "This is an exciting time for Universal; our Blu-ray slate for Q4 is one of the strongest and most compelling of any studio with the release of no less than five major summer blockbusters."
Universal's Blu-ray global strategy rolls-out this year in the U.K., Australia, New Zealand, France, Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Brazil, Mexico, Russia and Japan. Up to 30 Blu-ray titles will be released by the end of the year, including Universal's 2008 tentpoles available day-and-date on Blu-ray and DVD, including WANTED, HELLBOY II: THE GOLDEN ARMY, MAMMA MIA! and THE MUMMY 3: TOMB OF THE DRAGON EMPEROR.
Universal Pictures International will also release TV and catalogue titles such as HEROES, AMERICAN GANGSTER, CASINO and THE THING in 2008.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK will be available in three versions: a three-disc Special Edition DVD available for a limited time only; a two-disc Blu-ray release, offered in collectible 3D lenticular packaging for a limited time only; and a single-disc DVD edition.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK Special Edition DVD and Blu-ray Special Features Include:
--"The Making of THE INCREDIBLE HULK": An in-depth look at the making of the blockbuster film featuring interviews with Edward Norton, director Louis Leterrier, and producers Avi Arad, Kevin Feige and Gale Anne Hurd and the entire cast and crew. The documentary covers the film's innovative take on the character, look and storyline, as well as the casting process, production and profile of director Louis Leterrier.
--"Becoming The Hulk": This featurette focuses on Edward Norton's approach to the iconic role and the incredible visual effects employed by award-winning studio Rhythm & Hues to create the character on screen.
--"Becoming The Abomination": From the first motion capture session to the visual effects at Rhythm & Hues, viewers go behind the scenes with actor Tim Roth and watch as he transforms both his mind and body into the super villain known as The Abomination.
--From Comic Book to Screen: See the incredible comic books come to life courtesy of narration, sound effects and "living" panels of action.
--Feature Commentary With Director Louis Leterrier And Tim Roth
--Anatomy of a Hulk Out: Behind the scenes looks at three of the movie's action sequences:
*Hulking Out in the Bottling Plant -- Go inside the first action sequence of the film where both viewers and the army are given a glimpse of the Hulk to come
*Hulking Out on Campus -- A behind-the-scenes look at the creation of a Hulk action sequence, featuring airplanes, guns, and even a sound machine.
*Hulking Out in Harlem -- From pre-visualization animatics to visual effects, this featurette shows how filmmakers created one of the largest action sequences in Marvel film history.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK Blu-ray Special Features Include:
U Control: Universal's signature feature, U Control puts viewers one click away from going deeper into the making of the film without ever interrupting the movie, through animated comic book panels, storyboards, early renderings of the visual effects, interactive cast and crew interviews and exclusive information about the characters, back story, and THE INCREDIBLE HULK physics.
--Thunderbolt Files -- Explore the top secret files of the forces hunting The Hulk with this interactive feature that takes you deeper into the movie -- without stopping it
--Scene Explorer -- Discover the secret behind the special effects. Explore all the individual layers that go into an effects intensive scene
--Comic Book Gallery -- HD experience of the comic book images that inspired key shots in the movie
--Picture in Picture
--Alternate Opening
--Deleted Scenes
BD Live Features -- Interactive applications allow viewers to communicate with friends and family while watching the film
--My Chat -- Plug your player into your internet connection and connect to BD Live to chat with friends while watching the movie
--My Scenes Sharing -- Share your favorite clips with your friends through the BD Live Internet connection
International Blu-ray/DVD Release Dates:
U.K. -- October 13
Iberia -- October 14
Nordics/Brazil -- October 15
Italy -- October 22
Benelux -- November 6
Russia -- November 7
