"'Heroes' is one of those rare television series with such broad popular and critical appeal that it has become an instant cultural phenomenon," said Craig Kornblau, President of Universal Studios Home Entertainment and Universal Studios Digital Platforms. "With the extraordinary array of compelling bonus content offered on both the DVD and HD DVD respectively, this title, which has already generated tremendous anticipation among consumers, is well poised to be one of the greatest, must-have DVDs of the year."
The seven-disc DVD set is packed with revealing bonus features, including five featurettes, over 50 deleted scenes plus the 73-minute Tim Kring cut of the original series premiere that has never aired on television and much more. The seven-disc DVD version is priced at $59.98 S.R.P.
SUPERHUMAN EXTRAS
"Heroes: Season 1" reveals some of the show's hidden secrets with interviews, mini documentaries and extensive profiles, including:
* Unaired Pilot: The Tim Kring Cut with Audio Commentary -- A full 73 uninterrupted minutes of the original, unaired, extended pilot episode, as Heroes' creator Tim Kring first envisioned it, with a character never seen.
* The Making of "Heroes" -- From concept to pop culture phenomenon, a behind-the-scenes look at the hottest new series on television
* Special Effects -- The secrets behind the eye-popping visuals that give the Heroes their amazing powers.
* The Stunts -- A back stage look at the show's hair-raising stunts.
* Mind Reader -- Matt Parkman's mind reading abilities reveal your inner Hero with a series of simple tests.
* Profile of Artist Tim Sale -- A look at the Eisner Award-winning comic book artist (Spiderman, Batman, Daredevil) behind much of the Manga-influenced artwork used in the show.
* The Score -- Go behind the scenes with Wendy Melvin and Lisa Coleman (of Prince's The Revolution) as they create their ASCAP Award-winning musical score.
* 50 Deleted and Extended Scenes
SYNOPSIS
Mohinder Suresh (Sendhil Ramamurthy), a genetics professor from Chennai, picks up his late father's research and makes an astonishing discovery -- a seemingly random group of people around the world are developing astonishing super powers. From a drug-addicted artist (Santiago Cabrera), who paints the future and an ambitious politician (Adrian Pasdar) who can fly, to a New York cop who hears other people's thoughts (Greg Grunberg) and a Japanese computer programmer (Masi Oka) who can distort the space time continuum, these new Heroes seem to have a shared destiny. Creator Tim Kring ("Crossing Jordan") fashions a complex new world full of hidden clues, breathtaking plot twists and suspense-filled conundrums for an exhilaratingly fresh story about average people who are confronting the existence of inexplicable super powers.
Also starring Milo Ventimiglia, Hayden Panettiere, Ali Larter, Noah Gray-Cabey, Leonard Roberts, Tawny Cypress and Jack Colman, "Heroes: Season 1" is packed with special bonuses that take viewers deeper into this rich and riveting series. Relive the excitement or discover it for the first time with "Heroes: Season 1" on DVD and HD DVD.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION
DVD
Street Date: August 28, 2007
Pre-Order Close: July 24, 2007
Copyright: 2007 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved.
Price: $59.98 S.R.P.
Selection Number: 61101031
Discs: 7
Layers: DVD9 (SD)
Aspect Ratio: Widescreen (1:78:1)
Rating: NR
Audio: English Dolby Digital 5.1
Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios (http://www.universalstudios.com). Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% owned by Vivendi.
http://www.Heroesthedvd.com
http://www.nbc.com/Heroes/
Comedy Central has entered into an agreement with 20th Century Fox Television to syndicate the existing episodes and air the new movies as new episodes in an episodic format as of February 2008. At Comic-Con 2007 it was announced that Futurama will return on November 27th as a full-length DVD release called Futurama: Bender's Big Score, which will be followed by three additional films: The Beast with a Million Backs, Bender's Game and Into the Wild Green Yonder. After their release, each film will be divided into four episodes and air on Comedy Central. The show originally aired from 1999-2003 on FOX but was constantly pre-empted by Football... glad to see the show return as Family Guy has as well as King of the Hill!
Warner Home Video is announcing that 300 has become the fastest and highest selling high definition DVD to hit the market thus far. Since July 31st, 2007, 300 has moved more than 250,000 copies of both the HD DVD and the Blu-ray disc. 300 was also added to some cable HD On Demand lineups on the same day.
"'300' is an amazing film, and the high definition sales we are seeing underscores the positive business benefits of supporting both HD DVD and Blu-ray," said Ron Sanders, President of Warner Home Video. "This phenomenal response to '300' is the latest proof that our approach makes the most sense in today's market and has enabled Warner Home Video to continue to lead the market in high definition sales."
In some Time Warner markets, including Columbus, Ohio, 300 was added to the On Demand lineup on July 31, the same day it was released on standard and High-Definition disc (Blu-ray and HD DVD).
Comcast, the nation's largest cable operator, plans to add 300 to its HD On Demand menu on August 14, just two weeks after the DVD release.
In the past, home viewers would have to wait at least 30 days before seeing a new video release on cable or satellite VOD. But Warner Bros. has been testing 'same day' releases in select markets across the country.
The decision to release movies in the 'same day' format is another challenge to video retailers who are increasingly concerned about new video distribution methods.
Without the traditional "window" between the DVD release and the VOD premiere, there is less reason for the average viewer to rent the film from a video store.
In the past, Warner has tested the same day approach with lesser titles such as The Astronaut Farmer. But 300, which made $70 million during its opening weekend release, is far and away the biggest box office hit to get the same day treatment.
The film recounts the ancient clash between 300 Spartans and the Persian Army.
The Simpsons Movie easily led the international box office this weekend, adding $47.3 million from 6,627 theaters in 75 markets to bring the animated-comedy's worldwide take to $315.5 million in 12 days. The Simpsons Movie has earned $187 million overseas to date. This film is a must see, very funny & well worth the wait.
Transformers Hits $592.3 Million Worldwide
Transformers remained a solid overseas player with $30 million at 6,118 in 53 markets. The movie's foreign total has hit $296 million, nearly matching the domestic total. Transformers, which has exceeded Paramount's expectations offshore, should become the 48th pic to hit the $300 million international mark in a few days. It will be the fifth summer tentpole -- but first non-sequel -- to cross that milestone this summer after Spider-Man 3, "At World's End," "Order of the Phoenix," and Shrek the Third.
How does Samuel L. Jackson feel about his upcoming appearances in Iron Man & The Spirit? You can find out here.
Trekkies are in luck - Paramount announced at the San Diego Comicon a new Star Trek film directed and produced by J.J. Abrams, with Zachary Quinto (Heroes) confirmed as a young Spock. Leonard Nimoy will also play Spock... let the speculation begin!
Lastly, here's the Hellboy 2: The Golden Army teaser poster designed by Mike Mignola...
From Marvel:
Hey web-heads, here's some news to get your Spider-Senses tingling: SPIDER-MAN 3 arrives on on DVD and Blu-Ray in just a few short months! The third installment of the franchise featuring everyone's favorite Wall-Crawler swings onto shelves on October 30. Just in time for Halloween, early holiday gifts, Autumnal celebrations and well, just 'cuz!
Sony Pictures Entertainment is releasing the film—which already grossed a whopping $888 million worldwide in the box offices—in six different arachtastic ways that are sure to get your Spidey-juices flowing! At the top of the list is the "Spider-Man High Definition Trilogy" pack delivering all three films on Blu-ray disc—imagine all the Goblin, Doc Ock, Sandman and Venom-ous glory in HD. Go on. Imagine it. It's quite nice. The three-pack is the only shot fans will have at owning the first two Spider-Man films in the tasty hi-def Blu-Ray format, so true-believers better pounce! For those who want the trilogy but don't have the drool-worthy HD capabilities, never fear: the package will also be available on standard DVD.
If you already have the first two films of the saga or only want the tertiary chapter, it will also be released in single- and double-disc editions in both Blu-Ray and standard format DVD. The solo-disc DVD is packed with super special features like a gag reel, still galleries, a Snow Patrol music video and two audio commentaries, but the double-disc DVD boasts another disc jam-packed with walloping extras such as behind-the-scenes looks at the creation of Sandman and Venom and international TV spots. And finally, SPIDER-MAN 3 will be available for Spider-fans on the run via PSP UMD.
With all those options, it's time to get your pre-orders in order!
In the past 2 weeks, theres been a lot of stuff happening... the Family Guy Movie, titled Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story has been leaked to the internet in high quality a full 2 months before its direct-to-DVD release date. According to the information file published by the release group Angelic Evolution, the movie has been ripped from an “exclusive DVD premiere.” The movie follows Stewie, the family’s maniacal baby genius, who sets out on a road trip to find who he believes to be his real father. The actual DVD, with features and all will be in stores towards the end of September. By the way, if you're a Family Guy fan you won't be dissappointed.
TvshowsonDVD reports that the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe Volume 1 has an October 18, 2005 street date. The first volume contains the Best 10 Episodes as chosen by the those who voted on he-man.org last summer.
Everybody knows Thomas Hayden Church is playing Chameleon in the next Spider-Man movie... what everyone might not know, is so is Topher Grace. Church plays Dmitri Smerdyakov, who goes by false name Dr. Turner at Peter's college. The Chameleon also has a brother in this film, which will set up Kraven the Hunter for a future sequel. And Harry will indeed become the Green Goblin, at the very end. Spider-Man 3 will debut in theaters May 4, 2007.
The live-action Transformers movie site has been up for a few weeks now & personally, I can only wonder which way it'll go. The movie is set to open July 4th, 2007 & is now in pre-production.
It seems that we'll be getting a new Spawn Animated series soon... as noted during the San Diego Comic-Con, Spawn:The Animation will air in 2006. Keith David will be returning to do the voice of Spawn & this will serve as a pilot/mini movie which may be shown on TV before reaching DVD next year. Todd McFarlane and Terry Fitzgerald will be executive producers on the new Spawn animated series.
The Press Release From Spawn.com
Today we are proud to release the animation trailer that was shown at San Diego Comic-Con '05 for all to see here on spawn.com. Our update this week will give the "state of the animation report" as well as fan reaction to the animation trailer at the Con and an overview of the panel discussion TME President Terry Fitzgerald led along with IDT/Film Roman.
As of press time, we are trying to choose voice actors for our characters, as we plan to record early next week. Todd has been in Canada on vacation, making this an even bigger challenge than normal. It's decision time and with 12 main characters to cast it can be quite a daunting process not being in the same room with the actors.
Based on the casting choices made this week, Todd and Terry will be in studio in early August to direct the chosen actors. We are moving right along with pre-production and it's been quite an exciting process. On top of nailing down voice talent, our counterparts at IDT/Film Roman are flushing out and polishing up the last of the story boards in preparation for sending them to Korea to be animated. We have been introduced to our directing team in Korea and they have presented us with some stunning work to highlight their talents. We are thrilled to be working with them, as their participation will eliminate many sleepless nights of wondering how it's going overseas.
Reaction to the Spawn: Animation teaser trailer, which was revealed for the first time at the 2005 San Diego Comic-Con, has been overwhelmingly positive. Eager fans who have been waiting patiently for Spawn's return to the world of animation crowded not only the 1000-seat panel discussion -- featuring the creative minds from IDT/Film Roman as well as Terry Fitzgerald and his unique hands-on insight into the project -- but also the McFarlane Companies' booth where the trailer was on display for all to see. Eyes were continually, and in many cases repeatedly (as legions of fans and curious onlookers would return time and again) cast skyward toward the large plasma screen display in order to catch a glimpse of what is to come.
Check out the trailer right here.
Also, Justice League Unlimited fans should read Jim Harey's interview with story editor Dwayne McDuffie... Warlord fans should be ecstatic!
Back from vacation... now on with the news.
Family Guy:
2005 has been a big year for Fox's once cancelled show, as it came back to primetime May 1st. That episode, the first of the series' 4th season (North by North Quahog) was nominated for an Emmy for "Outstanding Animated Program (for Programs Less Than an Hour") . It's competition? Samurai Jack, The Simpsons, South Park, & SpongeBob SquarePants. Also, Fox has officially announced the direct-to-DVD title "Family Guy Presents Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story Unrated". The DVD will be released on September 27, will retail for $29.98 US, or $41.98 CAN.
Justice League Unlimited:
The Joining Forces DVD will be on sale September 20th and comes with 3 episodes, with a runtime of 66 minutes. Price is just $14.97 SRP.
Tonight's episode, "Divided We Fall" airs at 9pm tonight and the episode is described as follows:
When most of the Justice League is incapacitated, the League's deadliest enemies emerge to take advantage of the chaos.
July 23rd is the US airdate for "Epilogue"
Fifty years in the future, the history of the Justice League is the key to Batman's darkest secret...and his final destiny.
As for the next season, Rob at Comics Continuum has news from the San Diego Comic-Con on the newest plot details, including the Legion of Doom!
And even more Justice League news... 2006 will see a new Justice League of America video game (the first in over 10 years on a console) for Sony's Playstation 2 & Xbox 360.
In other news... the new Transformers Movie website has been up for a couple days & the movie is set to debut sometime in 2007. The new movie will be live action with a lot of CG... Marvel recently announced at the Comic-Con that they would give Microsoft exclusive rights to create a MMORPG for the Xbox 360 based on the Marvel characters.
Press Release
Macomb, MI, April 19, 2005 – Eagle One Media, a multi-media company is proud to announce it has acquired the license from Abrams Gentile Entertainment to produce a DVD digital comic based on the hugely successful Micronauts toy line of the 70’s and 80’s. Titled MICRONAUTS: REVOLUTION this action adventure story for all ages is set for release on DVD in July 2005 with a retail price of only $ 12.99. Eagle One Media is also making available a Special Offer to Micronaut fans.
Termed a DVD Digital Comic this unique DVD product will utilize the stunning visual artwork and storyline from six acclaimed comic book issues published by renown Devil’s Due Publishing and with the blending of animation, professional voice-over for the characters, music, sound and special effects, create a flowing viewable product that simply plays on any DVD player device. The DVD Digital Comic will have a run time of 90+ minutes for the viewer with a quality on par of a motion picture release that can be purchased for less then the cost of the printed comic book version.
Based on popular Micronauts toy line of the 70’s and 80’s, MICRONAUTS: REVOLUTION will give viewers a first rate action adventure tale as a band of rebel Micronauts lead by the hero Acroyear and lone abducted human from Earth try to survive and take on a universe under the control of the tyrant Baron Karza and his evil empire.
With digital imagery, surround sound, and animation, fans of the Micronauts will be able to fully experience in a whole new way a fantastic adventure in the “Microverse” saga. Fans can also expect within the DVD bonus features such as bios and drawings of some of the main Micronaut characters and a cover gallery as well.
SPECIAL OFFER: To celebrate the release of MICRONAUTS: REVOLUTION on DVD, Eagle One Media is offering a FREE Micronaut 36 piece trading card collector set produced by the Hero Factory to the first 500 individuals who visit the eagleonemedia.com website and register to reserve their own copy of the DVD. This unique card set will be included within the individual’s future DVD order at the time of shipping.
About Eagle One Media, Inc.:
Eagle One Media, Inc., a multi-media company, develops and produces DVD digital comic products based on licensed media properties for the retail marketplace. Currently set for release in June 2005 is the DVD digital comic THE TERMINATOR: HUNTERS AND KILLERS, based on the classic blockbuster sci-fi motion picture. The company also distributes comic book CD-ROM and DVD comic products. The complete product line is available to retailers and distributors, and directly consumers through its website www.eagleonemedia.com.
For more information on Eagle One Media, visit www.eagleonemedia.com or by sending an e-mail to info@eagleonemedia.com.
™ 2005 Takara Co., Ltd/Abrams Gentile Entertainment, Inc. Licensed by Character Vision, Inc. Los Angeles, CA 90016. All Rights Reserved.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the Elektra movie sold about 1 million combined DVD and VHS units Tuesday, its first day in release on home video.
Fox has announced its will rebroadcast the first Spider-Man and X-Men films as part of its spring Friday night movie schedule. Spider-Man, which debuted on the network last Thanksgiving, will air on Friday, April 29 at 8PM EST & X-Men will air on Friday, May 13 at 8PM EST.
In other news:
Iron Man, the third direct-to-DVD animated Marvel film will be coming out down the horizon. HBO/Cinemax will be airing Spider-Man 2 this summer. Can't wait for that! For more movie previews and new check out the Comics Universe Blog.
Mad! Fan has the new Darkstalkers #4 cover, as does the Joe Madureira! Fansite.
Mark Bagley still on Ultimate Spider-Man
from Ugo.com
Fan-favorite Spider-Man artist Mark Bagley has extended his exclusive contract with Marvel Comics, re-confirming his ties with the company he's called home since the beginning of his comic book career.
"I'm enjoying my working situation more every day I'm with Marvel," said the penciller. "I'm working with a terrific creative team and have wonderful support from both editorial and the big guys upstairs. A commitment from Marvel is a hell of a compliment. I've had an incredibly stable and fulfilling career with Marvel, and I'm as happy with the company now as I've ever been. And I think the contract means they are just as happy with me."
Marvel Publisher Dan Buckley is more than delighted with Bagley's work and his long-time association with the company. "I'm blown away by the length of Mark's tenure on Spidey's books. He's outdistanced both Steve Ditko and John Romita, Sr. in that respect and he's at least equaled them in putting a definitive and unique stamp on the character."
"We know a good thing when we see it, and we want Mark to know we love him and appreciate the incredible time and energy he puts into the Marvel characters," said Joe Quesada, Marvel Editor-in-Chief. "We're proud he got his start right here...he's our Marvel Boy!"
Bagley is well known for having gotten his professional artistic start by winning the famed Marvel Try-Out Contest. From there he distinguished himself on such titles as Amazing Spider-Man, New Warriors, Thunderbolts, The Pulse, and currently is wowing the fannish masses on the immensely popular Ultimate Spider-Man book. He's also been teamed with a bevy of top writers, including Brian Michael Bendis, Kurt Busiek, and Fabian Nicieza.
The artist is quick to recognize the warm and favorable reaction he's gotten from Marvel readers and the creative talent he's worked alongside since the beginning. "I'm pretty proud of my Thunderbolts work. It was gratifying the way the fans embraced the series. I look at my Ultimate Spider-Man work as a blessing. It is so great to work with such a talented bunch of guys, and the fact that fans so enjoy the book is really a tribute to the team."
Bagley's immediate future brings him to the drawing board, producing the kind of pages his fans like best. "I'm trying to make Ultimate Spidey my main focus for the time being. We're doing six fewer issues this year, and I'm really going to try and bring all I can to the book."
The New Batgirl?No, thats not a typo.
The Caped Crusader will be joined by Batgirl when Season 2 of The Batman begins in the fall. (The first year is still airing on WB Saturdays at 10:30 am/ET, with repeats on Cartoon Network on Saturdays at 8:30 pm/ET beginning April 2.)
As in previous TV and comic-book incarnations, this Dark Knight Damsel is Police Commissioner Gordon's daughter, Barbara. But in a new twist, she's just a teenager who turns to fighting crime with cape and cowl after her father puts the kibosh on her plans to become a police detective.
Batgirl's fighting style will be heavily influenced by her background as an Olympic gymnastics hopeful. "She has this nice, explosive little-kid dynamic," says producer and art director Jeff Matsuda.
At first, Batman doesn't approve of a youngster getting in the middle of Gotham City's depraved underworld. "But he also knows he can't stop her," Matsuda says. "Later on, we'll probably have that moment where he accepts her, but in the beginning, it's more of a stay-out-of-my-way deal."
Matsuda based the Batgirl character's design on the '60s live-action Batman series, especially the striking purple hue made famous by Yvonne Craig. He also cops to being influenced by "the cartoons I grew up on," including Battle of the Planets and Thundercats. Kids' WB! unveiled its 2005-2006 lineup on Wednesday, including the return of The Batman for a second season that will include Batgirl.
The Batman will air this fall on Saturdays at 11:30 a.m. and will also air weekdays at 4:30 p.m.
Here's how the network describes the new season:
"In this captivating second season, The Batman will face a little competition to protect the citizens of Gotham from a teenaged girl -- Batgirl. She has just flown into town to do her part in keeping the streets safe from the most dangerous and occasionally hysterical super villains out there. Is there enough room in Gotham for two Caped Crusaders?"
Marvel Movie Magic
X-men 3 has been confirmed to release on May 26, 2006 & they're looking for extras. Why not be one? And on the Spider-Man front, Thomas Hayden Church will take on the role of Sandman, not Venom as it was previously speculated. Also, here's an important excerpt from the interview in the New York Daily News:
But at 30, Sevigny is mellow about it all. After a decade as the poster child for edgy movies, the party girl from Darien, Conn., has let it be known she wants to go mainstream.
Way mainstream.
"I'd love to be in 'Spider-Man 3!'" Sevigny says. "There's a villain in it who's a blond, buxom girl, and I'm trying to get it!
"That [may] surprise people, since actors are always thought of as their last film or who they were. I think I'll always be drawn to films more difficult to watch, but I don't want to be a snobby cinephile."
Now who does that sound like? The planned release date is May 4, 2007.
Best Buy, Free Movies & Sin CityStarting March 27, electronics chain Best Buy will give out free DVDs promoting April 1 theatrical release Sin City, from Dimension.
Consumers will be able to get the teaser DVDs--which contain a trailer, behind-the-scenes interviews and scenes from the film--with the purchase of any CD, DVD or videogame. Also included are promos for Dimension movies currently on DVD and $50 worth of Best Buy coupons toward purchases of those titles. The giveaway will be featured prominently in the March 27 circular.
The chain first tried this type of theatrical cross-promotion with last March's Hellboy, giving out more than 300,000 teaser DVDs in the few weeks before the movie's premiere. On Sin City, the giveaway window is only a week long, so Best Buy will give out about 150,000 discs this time, according to Rob Cummins, business team leader for movies.
"We identified properties like Hellboy and now Sin City quite a ways out, and our goal is to give our customers something that … will put them in the know amongst their peer group about what's cool and exciting," Cummins said. This sort of theatrical marketing rewards customers for coming into the store regularly and builds loyalty, he added.
There's an upside for the studios involved as well.
"The theatrical division sees it as a grassroots opportunity to promote their movie beyond just what they'll do on TV, and home video sees it as a chance to probably sell some catalog," Cummins said.
FOX announced in January at the TV Critics Association winter press tour that the show will air its first new episode in more than three years on Sunday, May 1st. The network has committed to a full season's worth of episodes, so it's likely that the show can run well into the summer without repeating. Also that night, FOX will launch the series run of "Family Guy" creator Seth MacFarlane's new show, "American Dad." It centers on Stan Smith, an excessively gung-ho CIA agent who tends to bring his work home with him.
"Family Guy" also received the coveted post-Super Bowl premiere spot in 1999, but the show never got much love from FOX after that. It bounced around the network's schedule for three-plus seasons before being pulled for good in February 2002. The show's loyal cult following, however, made it a huge seller on DVD -- its compilations have sold a combined 3.5 million units -- and repeats on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim performed well, prompting FOX to commission new episodes. Even a rumored movie plot follows the dysfunctional Griffin family, in which the young domination-bent baby, Stewie, searches for his real father.
Check out the Official Family Guy Website & the 20th Century Fox Family Guy site & here for news and more on Family Guy.
Coinciding with the last Star Wars film ever, Star Wars: Revenge Of the Sith (Episode III), Dark Horse Comics will release a four issue mini-series with covers by Brian Bolland. Also, March 22nd sees the release of Lucasfilm and Fox Home Entertainment’s Star Wars: Clone Wars DVD, collecting the popular 2004 Cartoon Network series & more. Look for extras, a behind the scenes documentary, and interviews with George Lucas and series director Genndy Tartakovsky (Samurai Jack).
You also have the option of watching all 20 episodes seamlessly together (without breaks in between) to form 1 whole movie, or watch them individually in their original three minute form. Clone Wars season 2 begins March 21st and will lead directly into Return of the Sith. Rejoice, because these episodes will last 12 minutes each.
For more info and news, always check out the official website, theforce.net, the Lucasarts website & Star Wars Galaxies.