Disney took a gamble last month when they re-released The Lion King in theaters with 3D as a promotional effort to boost sales of the film’s Blu-ray debut. That gamble paid off in unexpected ways, and now Disney is hoping lightning can strike at least four more times.
As The Lion King crosses $80 million theatrically in its re-release, Disney has announced plans to return four Disney and Pixar classics to theater over the next two years. These films will also be available in 3D for the first time, and two of them are likely to coincide with their Blu-ray debuts as well.
First up is Beauty and the Beast which will roar into theaters on January 13, 2012. It just became available on Blu-ray 3D so it’s no surprise this one gets a re-release first considering it’s ready to go.
On September 14, 2012, Pixar’s Finding Nemo will swim back into theaters. Finding Nemo was originally planned to be the first Pixar film released on Blu-ray five years ago. It’s still not available to this day, so I would expect a simultaneous Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D debut for Nemo and friends in October of next year.
Another Pixar film, Monsters, Inc., will look for more laughs and scares on January 18, 2013. That’s six months ahead of the theatrical debut of Monsters University, the prequel film currently in production. A Blu-ray 3D release of Monsters, Inc. between those two dates seems likely.
Last but certainly not least is Disney’s The Little Mermaid on September 13, 2013. I fully expect this return to theaters to coincide with the film’s Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D debut.
