AfterDawn: News

'Lord of the Rings' finally headed to Blu-ray

In more news that bodes well for the future of the Blu-ray format, Warner has revealed that at least the first installment of the blockbuster trilogy The Lord of the Rings is finally headed to Blu-ray, and it is "coming soon".

The revelation came as part of an insert added into the new 'Poltergeist' Blu-ray Disc that shows what "Collector's Editions" of BDs are coming as well as movies that are "Coming Soon." A few other notable movies shown on the insert are "Shawshank Redemption", "The Notebook", "The Wizard of Oz" and "Rush Hour" among others.



Industry sources have also noted that the entire trilogy is headed to Blu-ray in 2009, although there was no word on whether the first editions sold would be theatrical cuts or extended cuts.

The news follows on the footsteps of Iron Man breaking BD sales records in just 3 days and word that the Dark Knight is coming to Blu-ray in two editions and with tons of BD-Live features.



Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 4 Oct 2008 15:38

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• 13 comments

• windsong

  definitely count on them to go a triple dip on this one since blu-ray will hold all the more extra bloat. Probably a 25gig disc for starters, then a year later we'll get the extended edition on bd-50.
  
  Anyways I already have the trilogy at 1080p from emule and usenet (over 20gigs each so that will have to do for now)

  4.10.2008 16:15 #1

• varnull

  Well.. as back catalog titles go at least these are worthy of a good HD release.
  

  
  
  Free open source software = made by end users who want an application to work. The flower of carnage-shura no hana

  4.10.2008 16:26 #2

• DVDBack23

  Originally posted by windsong: definitely count on them to go a triple dip on this one since blu-ray will hold all the more extra bloat. Probably a 25gig disc for starters, then a year later we'll get the extended edition on bd-50.
  
  Anyways I already have the trilogy at 1080p from emule and usenet (over 20gigs each so that will have to do for now)No chance they will be on single layer BD (wouldn't fit) but I do expect the first release to be theatrical release and then in 2010 the extended cuts (the ones everybody wants).

  4.10.2008 16:57 #3

• Mik3h

  Nice, something to consider when I shell out for a player.
  
  If only Microsoft could somehow get the rights to develop a blu-ray player addon.

  4.10.2008 18:02 #4

• NexGen76

  Can't wait day one purchase.

  5.10.2008 04:06 #5

• Toshibot

  Originally posted by DVDBack23:
  No chance they will be on single layer BD (wouldn't fit) but I do expect the first release to be theatrical release and then in 2010 the extended cuts (the ones everybody wants).They could also do the same thing they did with their latest release of the DVD's: both versions (theatrical and extended) on the same disc with seamless branching - you get to choose which version you want at the start of the film and the seamless branching feature takes care of which scenes are shown.

  5.10.2008 09:21 #6

• subpopz

  Yay, now I can see a super sharp picture of intense close-ups of hobbits babbling and crying over a every little thing. Can't wait!

  5.10.2008 09:34 #7

• kyo28

  Been looking forward to this release on BD! I just hope they put both the theatrical and extended cuts on there, with seamless branching. That would be just perfect.

  6.10.2008 08:48 #8

• kyo28

  Been looking forward to this release on BD! I just hope they put both the theatrical and extended cuts on there, with seamless branching. That would be just perfect.

  6.10.2008 08:48 #9

• miltex

  my Sd version is just fine on upconversion
  

  When the chips are down, you can count on miltex !

  7.10.2008 05:13 #10

• glassd

  Originally posted by miltex: my Sd version is just fine on upconversionJust like a warm Coke with no Fizz will satisfy your thirst. I would rather have the best possible.

  7.10.2008 10:26 #11

• Vr0cK

  Ill wait for the Blu-ray boxset of LOTR like i did with POTC.

  7.10.2008 12:24 #12

• Azazel61

  I am actually looking forward to this release. Not many movies out there are worth the extra cost of Blu-Ray, but I think this is one of them. My gentle opinion of course.

  7.10.2008 12:35 #13