The interwebs are abuzz following Warner's release of a new online video touting an upcoming, long-awaited Superman Anthology Blu-ray set. Our public relations contacts are busily putting the finishing touches on the official press release, so we will share what we do know thus far. The timing makes sense, as Supes' pal Green Lantern is hitting the big screen in the months ahead, and Zack Snyder's take on the Man of Steel is currently underway.
This is to be a multi-disc boxed set containing all five feature films: Superman, Superman II, Superman III, Superman IV: The Quest for Peace and Bryan Singer's ill-fated attempt at a series reboot, Superman Returns. Additionally, the extended cut of Superman as well as Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut (both of which I enjoy, although I take some heat for it) will be in there. As a reminder, the theatrical version of Superman and II, along with any version of III and IV: The Quest for Peace, have never been released on Blu-ray.
Further, my original November 2006 copy of the Superman Returns Blu-ray has only Dolby Digital audio, although this title was later upgraded to include Dolby TrueHD. Back then there was talk of including the deleted "Return to Krypton" sequence shot for the film (and glimpsed in the trailer), either edited back in or as a supplement, but it was ultimately held back with talk of some future release that has yet to materialize. Might its day finally be at hand?
We are promised some 20 hours of bonus materials, which might simply be a port of the vast extras that adorned the "Superman Ultimate Collector's Edition" DVD compilation. (The video quality of some of these was iffy, and not likely to improve.) Included would be comprehensive audio commentaries, vintage "making of" specials, made-for-DVD featurettes, deleted scenes and more.
What really has our juices flowing however is the term "All-New Digitally Remastered" which pops up in the promotional video. Put a gun to my head and I'll say that the current Superman and Superman II: The Richard Donner Cut Blu-rays utilized the DVD masters, and even a recent film like Returns could benefit from a refresh in light of the ongoing evolution and improvement of Full HD 1080p/24. The primary colors of the classic Supersuit were jaw-dropping on DVD, and so the mind reels at the thought of a top-notch red-yellow-and-Blu-ray....
You can view the official Warner video on ComicBookMovies' YouTube page.
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