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Paramount Cancels Majority of HD DVD Slate (UPDATED)

Thu Feb 28, 2008 at 07:02 PM ET
Tags: Industry Trends, Paramount, DreamWorks (all tags)

UPDATE: (2/28/08, 9:45pm ET) We've just received word from Paramount that DreamWorks Animation will follow its studio parent and end HD DVD support. DreamWorks Animation's sole remaining HD DVD release, 'Bee Movie' (originally scheduled for March 11) has been cancelled. We've updated our database accordingly.

Ending weeks of speculation, Paramount says 'Into the Wild' and 'Things We Lost in the Fire' will be its last two HD DVD releases.

Although the studio has yet to issue a formal statement, when asked to confirm retail reports that it had canceled the majority of its upcoming HD DVD slate, a Paramount rep told us that following the next week's HD DVD releases of 'Into the Wild' and 'Things We Lost in the Fire,' the studio will no longer issue any further titles on the format.

According to a just-published article in The Hollywood Reporter, the studio is expected to release its first new Blu-ray titles this summer.

Paramount (and its subsidiary DreamWorks) had nearly a half-dozen HD DVD titles scheduled for release through early Spring. Here is a complete list of the studio's previously-announced titles that have now been cancelled:

March 25: 'The Jack Ryan Collection,' 'The Kite Runner'
April 1: 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'
April 15: 'There Will Be Blood '

Needless to say, we'll keep you posted on further details of Paramount/DreamWorks transition to Blu-ray as they're announced.

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Related links:
Paramount stops HD DVD production [Hollywood Reporter]
Paramount Done with HD DVD Next Week [Vieo Business]
Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Into the Wild (HD DVD)
Things We Lost in the Fire (HD DVD)
Bee Movie (Blu-ray)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Paramount Goes Blu (Feb 21, 2008)
DreamWorks Animation: Still HD DVD Exclusive (For Now) (Feb 27, 2008)

Paramount Nixes 'There Will Be Blood' HD DVD? (UPDATED)

Mon Feb 25, 2008 at 11:00 AM ET
Tags: Street Date Changes, Paramount, DreamWorks (all tags)

UPDATE: 2/25/08, 3:00pm ET Although Paramount has removed 'There Will Be Blood' from its press site as reported below, the title may not in fact be cancelled. According to retail reports, the studio is still planning an April 8th release date, but has put an embargo on release details until March 4. (Details for the standard DVD have also been removed.) Stay tuned...

Though Paramount has yet to detail its Blu-ray transition plans, one of its previously-announced HD DVD titles may not be hitting store shelves as originally planned.

Announced just last week, the April 8th release of 'There Will Be Blood' would likely have been among the biggest titles to hit HD DVD this Spring, but following Paramount's announcement late Thursday that it will re-embrace Blu-ray, the title has quietly been removed from from the studio's official media website.

At press time it wasn't clear whether the apparent cancellation was a direct result of Paramount's move to Blu-ray. As we've previously reported, the studio has yet to provide a timetable for its first Blu-ray releases, nor has it commented on the fate of its upcoming HD DVD slate.

Notably, although 'There Will Be Blood' has been removed, Paramount still lists over a half a dozen HD DVD titles for release through early Spring. Here is a complete list of previously-announced Paramount/DreamWorks titles that remain officially scheduled as of this writing:

February 26: 'Beowulf'
March 4: 'Into the Wild,' 'Things We Lost in the Fire'
March 11: 'Bee Movie'
March 25: 'The Jack Ryan Collection,' 'The Kite Runner'
April 1: 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street'

Needless to say, we'll keep you posted on any official announcements from Paramount as they come in.

Thanks to Nick for the tip!

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Beowulf: The Director's Cut (2007) (HD DVD)
Into the Wild (HD DVD)
Things We Lost in the Fire (HD DVD)
Bee Movie (Blu-ray)
The Jack Ryan Collection (HD DVD)
American Gangster (Blu-ray)
Beetlejuice (Blu-ray)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Paramount Goes Blu (Feb 21, 2008)
Paramount Says 'There Will Be Blood' on HD DVD (Feb 20, 2008)

Paramount Goes Blu

Thu Feb 21, 2008 at 03:36 AM ET
Tags: Industry Trends, Paramount, DreamWorks (all tags)

The last domino of the format war has fallen: Paramount has officially announced it will align with Blu-ray and begin releasing titles on the format.

"We are pleased that the industry is moving to a single high-definition format, as we believe it is in the best interest of the consumer," the studio said via a statement issued Wednesday to The Hollywood Reporter.

"As we look to (begin) releasing our titles on Blu-ray, we will monitor consumer adoption and determine our release plans accordingly."

The studio did not issue any further details regarding a timeframe for the transition, nor any specific title announcements.

Also absent in Paramount's statement was any mention of subsidiary DreamWorks, although it is widely expected that the company (including DreamWorks Animation) will follow its corporate parent and begin releasing titles on Blu-ray.

Paramount's statement follows two days of silence by the studio, after primary HD DVD-backer Toshiba's announcement early Tuesday that it would drop its support of the format. Only hours later, Universal Studios confirmed a move to Blu-ray, leaving Paramount as the sole HD DVD-exclusive studio yet to declare its future plans.

We'll have more on this breaking story as it comes to us.

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Related links:
All Hollywood studios now lined up behind Blu-Ray [Reuters]
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Toshiba Officially Drops HD DVD (Feb 19, 2008)
Universal Studios Goes Blu (Feb 19, 2008)

Paramount Says 'There Will Be Blood' on HD DVD

Wed Feb 20, 2008 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Paramount (all tags)

Toshiba may have sounded the death knell for HD DVD Tuesday, but that didn't stop Paramount from announcing a two-disc special edition HD DVD of 'There Will Be Blood' for early April.

One of the most acclaimed films of the last year, Paul Thomas Anderson's epic tale of American oil prospectors is a leading contender for the Best Picture Oscar going into this weekend's ceremony, where star Daniel-Day Lewis is also a front-runner for Best Actor.

Paramount says it will debut 'There Will Be Blood' as two-disc HD DVD on April 8, day-and-date with the standard-def DVD.

Supplements announced so far include two making-of featurettes ("There Will Be Blood: Pics, Research, Etc.", "The Story of Petroleum"), 15 minutes of deleted scenes, and theatrical and teaser trailers. More details are expected to be unveiled shortly, so stay tuned.

Tech specs for the HD DVD include 1080p/VC-1 video and Dolby TrueHD 5.1 Surround audio.

Suggested retail for the HD DVD edition has been set at $39.99.

As always, you'll find the latest specs for 'There Will Be Blood' linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 8.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Paramount's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'There Will Be Blood' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Dirty Harry (Blu-ray)

Last Man Standing: All Eyes on Paramount

Tue Feb 19, 2008 at 07:00 PM ET
Tags: Paramount (all tags)

Though it's widely believed that Paramount will ultimately follow Warner and Universal to Blu-ray, the studio's silence today in the wake of Toshiba's announcement has tongues wagging.

Of course, Paramount is no stranger to the Blu-ray camp, having famously abandoned the format last August to go HD DVD exclusive. Although the studio was reported to have received $150 million in incentives to make the move, at the time studio execs praised HD DVD as the more stable of the two next-gen platforms.

Whether or not those public statements and/or any fees received by Paramount to make the switch are complicating negotiations with the BDA this time around is unknown, but as the only major HD DVD-supporting studio yet to make its future high-def plans known, speculation among industry observers reached a fever pitch Tuesday afternoon.

For its own part, Paramount declined comment on Toshiba's announcement today; instead, the studio issued release details for two HD DVD titles, 'There Will Be Blood' and 'Sweeney Todd.'

Stay tuned...

See what people are saying about this story in our forums area, or check out other recent discussions.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Dirty Harry (Blu-ray)
Beetlejuice (Blu-ray)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Paramount/DreamWorks Drops Blu-ray; Studio to Support HD DVD Exclusively (Aug 20, 2007)
Paramount CTO Speaks Out On Switch to HD DVD (Aug 22, 2007)

Specs, Box Art in For 'Kite Runner' HD DVD

Thu Feb 14, 2008 at 11:00 AM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Paramount (all tags)

Confirming earlier retailer reports, Paramount has officially announced a March HD DVD arrival for the acclaimed drama 'The Kite Runner.'

As we've previously reported, Paramount recently told retailers it was planning a March 25 street date for the HD DVD edition of the Marc Forster-directed film (day-and-date with the standard DVD). Now the official media announce is in, with Paramount revealing plans for a full-blown special edition with multiple extras.

Announced supplements include an audio commentary with director Marc Forster, screenwriter David Benioff and Khalid Hosseini, the "Words from The Kite Runner" featurette, an "Images from The Kite Runner" still gallery, a PSA, and the theatrical trailer.

Tech specs include 1080p/VC-1 video and Dolby Digital-Plus 5.1 Surround and subtitle options in English, French and Spanish.

Paramount has also unveiled box art for the HD DVD:


As previously announced, suggested list price for the HD DVD has been set at $39.98.

You'll find final disc details for 'The Kite Runner' linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it's indexed under March 25.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Paramount's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Kite Runner' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
American Gangster (Blu-ray)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
Paramount Plans 'Kite Runner' HD DVD for March (Jan 29, 2008)

Paramount Confirms 'Star Trek: Season 2' HD DVD Bump

Wed Feb 13, 2008 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: Street Date Changes, TV on High-Def, Paramount (all tags)

Paramount has set phasers to "delay" for 'Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two,' confirming speculation that it has pushed back its planned March HD DVD debut to this Summer.

As we reported last November, Paramount had issued an early alert to retailers of a March 25 landing for the original 'Star Trek's second voyage, which (like the first season set) was expected to receive a lavish HD DVD/DVD combo box set with deluxe packaging and tons of extras.

Now we've heard from the studio that the March date has officially been delayed, with the second season now due "sometime this summer," though no new date has been confirmed. (Unofficial word of a delay for this title first surfaced as early as December, when TVShowsonDVD.com first quoted unnamed sources as saying that the studio "needed more time" to prep the release.)

As a full announce isn't expected for several months, there's no further news on specs or supplements. Needless to say, we'll keep you posted.

In light of the delay, we've moved 'Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two' to the "Release Dates Postponed" section of our HD DVD Release Schedule.

To discuss this upcoming release with other Trekkies in our Forums area, click the following link to discuss the 'Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Star Trek: The Original Series - Season Two (HD DVD)
Star Trek: The Original Series - Season One (HD DVD)
Earlier on High-Def Digest:
'Star Trek' Season Two HD DVD Gets a Date (Nov 19, 2007)

50 Percent Off Select Paramount Discs at Amazon

Fri Feb 08, 2008 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: High-Def Retailing, Amazon, Paramount (all tags)

Amazon has added nearly fifty titles from Paramount and DreamWorks to its current sale on HD DVD titles.

The web giant is now offering a total of 146 HD DVD titles from Paramount/DreamWorks, Universal and Warner Bros at 50% off list price.

Among the newly added Paramount/DreamWorks titles are such hits as 'Zodiac,' 'Transformers' and 'Anchorman,' which are being offered at prices ranging from 14.95 to $19.95 a piece (view complete list of titles and prices).

At press time there was no word on how long this latest HD DVD deal would be offered by Amazon, although it's being billed as a limited time offer. For a full list of eligible titles and more information, click the link to Amazon below.

As always, you'll find up-to-the-minute information on these and other sales spotted in-store and online in the HD DVD bargains and Blu-ray bargains areas of our forums.

(Thanks to all who sent in tips related to this story!)

Related links:
Save 50% on HD DVDs [Amazon.com]
Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Zodiac: Director's Cut (HD DVD)
Transformers (2007) (HD DVD)
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (HD DVD)

Paramount Plots 'Sweeney Todd' HD DVD for April

Fri Feb 01, 2008 at 03:00 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Paramount (all tags)

This is no macabre joke, HD DVD fans: DreamWorks has announced an April Fool's Day arrival for the Tim Burton-Johnny Depp musical 'Sweeney Todd.'

In an early alert to retailers, DreamWorks has set an April 1 HD DVD release for the $50 million-grossing 'Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,' due day-and-date with the standard-def DVD.

DreamWorks has set a suggested list price of $39.98 for the HD DVD.

The full media announce is not due for several days, so there were no tech or supplement specs available at press time. We'll keep you posted as soon as the fully bloody details come in.

In the meantime, you'll find preliminary disc specs for 'Sweeney Todd' linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it's indexed under April 1.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for DreamWorks's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'Sweeney Todd' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
Beetlejuice (Blu-ray)

Paramount Plans 'Kite Runner' HD DVD for March

Tue Jan 29, 2008 at 01:00 PM ET
Tags: Disc Announcements, Paramount (all tags)

In an early announce to retailers, Paramount has revealed a late March HD DVD arrival for the acclaimed drama 'The Kite Runner.'

Based on the controversial best-seller by Khaled Hosseini and directed by 'Monster's Ball' helmer Marc Foster, 'The Kite Runner' has received raves from the nation's top critics, as well as a recent Oscar nomination for Best Original Score.

Paramount has set a March 25 debut for the HD DVD, day-and-date with the standard-def DVD.

As the full media release is still to come, tech specs and supplemental details remain unavailable, but we'll keep you posted.

Retail for the HD DVD has been set at a suggested $39.98.

You'll find preliminary disc details for 'The Kite Runner' linked from our HD DVD Release Schedule, where it is indexed under March 25.

We've also set up a dedicated thread for Paramount's latest in our Forums area -- click the following link to discuss the 'The Kite Runner' HD DVD release.

Discs mentioned in this article: (Click for specs and reviews)
American Gangster (Blu-ray)


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