E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is turning 30 this year. Wow, we feel old. We also feel excited, because Universal is celebrating the little alien's monumental birthday with a long overdue Blu-ray release.
Universal just announced that the E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack will be available starting October 20, 2012.
This will be the first Blu-ray for Steven Spielberg's classic adventure, so Universal is pulling out all of the stops. The studio is promising a digitally remastered picture as well as a new Dolby Digital 7.1 audio track.
In addition to the Blu-ray, fans can expect the package to include a standard-def DVD of the movie, a Digital Copy and an UltraViolet copy. Of course, there will also be plenty of sepcial features, including an all-new interview with Spielberg and "The E.T. Journals," which includes never-before-seen footage from the 1982 film set shot by Oscar-winning cinematographer John Toll.
Blu-ray buyers can expect some of the standard fare, such as deleted scenes, the trailer and TV spots. However, there's also an entire section dedicated to Designs, Photographs and Marketing, which includes sketches, photographs, and other tidbits. Also look for a making-of featurette titled, "A Look Back" and a short reuniting the E.T. cast. "The Evolution and Creation of E.T." will cover the film from conception to production, with another short going in-depth on the celebrated John Williams score. Last, but not least, "The 20th Anniversary Premiere" also has Williams performing live at the film's re-release 10 years ago, with behind-the-scenes snippets from that event.
Nominated for nine Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial is still one of the most beloved family films. It stars Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace and Peter Coyote.
"When E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial premiered in 1982, it captured the imaginations of people young, old and everyone in between in a way that was unparalleled in modern movie history," said Craig Kornblau, president of Universal Studios Home Entertainment. "A global cultural phenomenon -- and the biggest box-office blockbuster of its day -- E.T. brought out the child in all of us. We are thrilled audiences will now be able to experience the film in the astounding quality of Blu-ray."
In case you can't get enough E.T., Universal has also partnered up with the gaming gurus at Chillingo for E.T.: The Green Planet, which will be available at the iTunes App Store. Inspired by a novel based on a story by Spielberg, E.T.: The Green Planet invites players to travel home with E.T., explore and build extraordinary intergalactic botanical gardens, and share experiences with friends.
The E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial Anniversary Edition Blu-ray Combo Pack isn't available for pre-order just yet, but we're expecting that to change soon. However, you can sign up on Amazon to get notified via email when pre-orders start. In the meantime, get pumped for the release with a peek at the Blu-ray trailer below.
Where to Buy:
