You can now cross Universal Studios off the list of studios yet to unveil their 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray plans. Befitting a large studio with numerous tentpoles released each year, Universal plans to stake a big claim in the growing 4K market that is poised to gain mainstream traction heading into this upcoming holiday shopping season.
New theatrical films due in theaters this year that will receive day-and-date 4K UHD Blu-ray and UHD Digital releases alongside their Blu-ray and DVD counterparts include The Huntsman: Winter’s War, Warcraft and Jason Bourne, among others. Some of the confirmed catalog films coming to 4K sometime later this year are Everest, Lucy and Lone Survivor.
Universal is mastering all of their 4K home video releases in Dolby Vision with High Dynamic Range (HDR) colors. Many — but not all — of the titles will include “multi-dimensional sound,” but Universal stopped short of naming their preferred audio format for 4K UHD releases.
At this time we don’t have a timetable for when Universal’s first 4K UHD Blu-ray titles will arrive in stores alongside titles from Fox, Warner Bros., Lionsgate, Sony, Paramount and Shout! Factory. My best guess would be in either late July or August when The Huntsman: Winter’s War is anticipated to make its home video debut.
