Warner Home Video (WHV), which distributes the largest film library of any studio, announced Friday at a press conference at CES 2005 that it plans to release over 50 new and catalog titles, including selections from New Line Home Entertainment and HBO Video, during the launch of HD DVD, the next generation digital video format, commencing in the fourth quarter of 2005.
“We’re proud to continue our longstanding tradition of innovation and leadership in home video by debuting an exciting selection of new releases on HD DVD that will be accompanied by time tested favorites from our extensive library,” said Jim Cardwell, President, Warner Home Video. “HD DVD is the future of home entertainment and is the format that will lead us into the high definition entertainment era. It will create new and exciting opportunities for consumers to enjoy their favorite movies, TV series, sports programming, children’s entertainment, documentaries and other specialized titles with unprecedented picture and sound quality, advanced navigation and interactivity and increased security.”
The press conference will feature a dazzling demonstration of HD DVD highlighted by an exclusive first look of clips from Warner Bros. Pictures pre-theatrical releases to be issued by Warner Home Video on HD DVD. These HD DVD clips will include footage of Christian Bale in Batman Begins, Keanu Reeves in Constantine and Johnny Depp as Willy Wonka in Tim Burton’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.
“Warner Home Video’s endorsement creates a deep and diverse base of content support for HD DVD,” said Marsha King, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Warner Home Video. “It ensures that consumers will be able to enjoy an impressive collection of their favorite movies, TV series and other entertainment as they have never seen them before — in high definition and with HD DVD’s rich features.”
Planned HD DVD releases from the extensive Warner Home Video library include such recent theatrical releases as Ocean’s Twelve, The Polar Express, and The Phantom of the Opera as well as titles from the hugely successful “Matrix” and “Harry Potter” franchises.
New Line Home Entertainment and HBO Video, owners of such esteemed motion picture and television titles as “Rush Hour” series and The Sopranos respectively, also plan to issue releases in conjunction with their distribution partner Warner Home Video in support of the launch of HD DVD.
“New Line Home Entertainment has always been at the forefront of industry innovation, and our involvement in the launch of HD DVD signals our continued commitment to the evolution of home entertainment,” said Stephen Einhorn, President and Chief Operation Officer, New Line Entertainment. “In support of HD DVD and to provide consumers with a compelling new entertainment experience, we’re planning to issue a selection of our most exciting films in the format including such titles as ‘Se7en’, ‘Blade’, ‘Rush Hour’ and ‘Austin Powers’.”
“HD DVD represents an exciting new development that will significantly enhance the consumer’s home entertainment experience,” said Henry McGee, President, HBO Video. “We are backing the launch of HD DVD with a line-up of releases from HBO’s highly acclaimed programming including the first season of ‘The Sopranos’ and the miniseries ‘Angels in America’ and ‘From the Earth to the Moon’.”
PLANNED WARNER HOME VIDEO HD DVD LAUNCH TITLES
Above the Law
Alexander
Angels in America (HBO)
Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery (New Line)
Batman Begins
Blade (New Line)
Catwoman
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Constantine
Contact
Dark City (New Line)
The Dukes of Hazzard
Eraser
Executive Decision
Final Destination (New Line)
Friday (New Line)
From the Earth to the Moon (HBO)
The Fugitive
Gothika
Hard to Kill
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
House of Wax (2005)
The Last Samurai
The Mask (New Line)
The Matrix
The Matrix Reloaded
The Matrix Revolutions
Maverick
Million Dollar Baby
The Music Man
Mystic River
Next of Kin
North by Northwest
Ocean’s Eleven
Ocean’s Twelve
Passenger 57
The Perfect Storm
The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
The Player (New Line)
The Polar Express
Red Planet
Rush Hour (New Line)
Se7en (New Line)
Soldier
The Sopranos (HBO)
Spawn (New Line)
Swordfish
Troy
Under Siege
U.S. Marshals
Wild Wild West
