Carlton Cuse, one of the show-runners of
Lost, is a great guy and puts on a great show. But he and fellow producer Damon Lindelof apparently weren't in the loop on plans a bit over a month ago, when
he told a fan at an online Q&A chat that they "
have heard of no plans to go back and re-release seasons one and two on bluRay [sic]". Or else, possibly that had been the plan at the time, and Disney has quickly shifted gears and decided to put such a release together.
Today, in accompaniment with the opening of the 2009 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has issued a press release that mentions
Lost - The Complete 1st and 2nd Seasons as being among their planned Blu-ray Disc high-def releases in the coming year. When will these be available? The press release doesn't say. In fact, it focuses on films all the way, except for this particular title. But it's good to know this is in-the-works! Stay tuned for further updates. For now, here's the complete text of the press release, with our own yellow highlighting added to the TV-on-BD title.
Note that the titles included on this press release do not include yet-to-be-debuted television seasons and films which Disney may also decide to release on Blu-ray, such as the 5th Season of
Lost and upcoming new theatrical films such as
Race to Witch Mountain or Pixar's
Up. We're certain to expect 2009 releases of these titles on Blu-ray Disc as well.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WALT DISNEY STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT ANNOUNCES
EXCITING NEW BLU-RAY™ OPTIONS OFFERING CONSUMERS
GREATER ACCESSIBILITY AND VALUE THAN EVER BEFORE
Disney Unveils Unprecedented Combo Packs in 2009, Offering Consumers
Worldwide Both Blu-ray and DVD Discs...In A Single Package!
BURBANK, Calif.-January 7, 2009 - As more and more families transition to high definition, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (WDSHE) concentrates its efforts on offering consumers unprecedented quality, value and portability in the purchases of their favorite Disney Blu-ray movies with the announcement of its new Blu-ray + DVD Combo Packs.
Disney's Combo Pack will be extended across an exciting new slate of Disney-branded theatrical and Platinum titles releasing on Blu-ray between February and October of 2009. Some of the upcoming Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack titles families can look forward to include the teen phenomenon
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (February 17), Walt Disney's animated classic
Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition (March 10) and all those leading up to the highly anticipated release of
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Platinum Edition in October.
"These unique Combo Packs provide the opportunity for consumers around the world to take advantage of the quality of Blu-ray with the portability of a DVD disc in a single package," comments Bob Chapek, President of Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment. "As always, we are committed to offering our consumers exceptional quality and value when purchasing our products."
WDSHE first successfully introduced a Blu-ray + DVD Combo Pack (Blu-ray + DVD in a single package) with the release of
Sleeping Beauty's 50th Anniversary Platinum Edition in 2008 across limited markets. The inclusion of the feature film on standard definition DVD allowed consumers without Blu-ray players to "future proof" their collections.
In addition, WDSHE North America will be packaging 14 of its hot new Blu-ray titles releasing in the U.S. and Canada with a DisneyFile digital copy of the movie for consumers to enjoy anytime, anywhere on their Mac, PC or compatible portable devices. Digital copies will be made available in both iTunes and Windows Media file formats and are set to be included with such titles as
High School Musical 3: Senior Year, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Monsters Inc., and
A Bug's Life.
As part of its continued worldwide Blu-ray release efforts, WDSHE is adding many exciting new titles to the line-up in North America, Europe and Asia. Titles include new theatrical releases, catalog, direct-to-video, top television series and some of America's most requested movies.
WDSHE North America will be releasing several new theatrical titles to Blu-ray day-and-date with the DVD including
Swing Vote (Touchstone Pictures) on January 13;
Miracle At St. Anna (Touchstone Pictures) on February 10;
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 17;
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Pictures) on March 3;
Morning Light (Walt Disney Pictures) in summer of 2009; as well as an all new direct-to-video
Space Buddies (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 3.
In addition, WDSHE North America will also be expanding its Blu-ray catalog library with more than 30 exciting releases including such titles as
Pretty Woman (Touchstone Pictures) on February 10;
High School Musical Remix Edition (Walt Disney Pictures) on February 17;
Monsters Inc. (Disney/Pixar);
A Bug's Life (Disney/Pixar);
Microcosmos (Miramax);
Rounders 10th Anniversary Edition (Miramax);
Lost: The Complete First and Second Seasons (ABC);
Sin City (Miramax);
Miracle (Walt Disney Pictures);
Sling Blade (Miramax);
The Greatest Game Ever Played (Walt Disney Pictures);
Pulp Fiction Special Edition (Miramax);
Good Will Hunting Special Edition (Miramax) and many more to follow in 2009.
In Europe/Australia, WDSHE will roll-out the following Blu-ray titles beginning with
Space Buddies (Walt Disney Pictures) and
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Walt Disney Pictures) in February;
Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition (Walt Disney Pictures) in March and
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Pictures) in April; and
Monsters Inc. (Disney/Pixar) sometime in 2009.
Japan will see the following WDSHE Blu-ray releases starting with
Pinocchio: 70th Anniversary Platinum Edition (Walt Disney Pictures) in March;
Tinker Bell (Walt Disney Pictures) and
WALL-E (Disney/Pixar) in April; and
High School Musical 3: Senior Year (Walt Disney Pictures),
Monsters Inc. (Disney/Pixar) and
Beverly Hills Chihuahua (Walt Disney Pictures) to follow at later dates.
About Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment
Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment, a recognized leader in the home entertainment industry, is the marketing, sales and distribution company for Walt Disney, Touchstone, Hollywood Pictures, Miramax and Buena Vista product which includes DVD, Blu-ray Disc, and electronic distribution. Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment is a division of The Walt Disney Studios.
