Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment has finally formally announced the Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution Blu-ray Disc set is a lock for a November 4 release.
Each Apes film will be authored in Java on BD-50 Discs and presented in widescreen 2.35:1 1080p video and newly remastered 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio.
For the first time in North America the unrated version of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes will be available packing an extra eight minutes of footage. The set also includes a number of all-new supplemental features, marked below, with all supplements presented in high definition.
- NEW Science of the Apes BONUSVIEW – Scientists, anthropologists and sociologists discuss the facts and fiction of the first film
- NEW Beyond the Forbidden Zone Adventure Game
- NEW A Public Service Announcement From ANSA in HD – A mission report from the agency regarding their brave astronauts
- NEW Evolution of the Apes – HD featurette tracing the apes story from the original novel to the screen
- NEW Impact of the Apes – HD featurette on how to market a worldwide pop culture phenomenon. The story behind the marketing and merchandising of one of the first ever film franchises and the series’ lasting influence on pop culture through the years
- NEW HD Making-of Featurette for Each Sequel:
- Beneath the Planet of the Apes – From Alpha to Omega: Building a Sequel
- Escape from the Planet of the Apes – The Secret Behind Escape
- Conquest of the Planet of the Apes – Riots and Revolutions: Confronting the Times
- Battle for the Planet of the Apes – End of an Epic: The Final Battle
- NEW Each Apes sequel will have an isolated score track in 5.1 DTS Master Audio
- Commentary by Composer Jerry Goldsmith
- Commentary by Actors Roddy McDowall, Natalie Trundy, Kim Hunter and Makeup Artist John Chambers
- Text Commentary by Eric Greene and Author of Planet of the Apes as American Myth
- Behind the Planet of the Apes Documentary – Includes all new interactivity and timeline
- Behind the Planet of the Apes Promo (1988)
- Planet of the Apes Makeup Test with Edward G. Robinson (1966)
- Roddy McDowall On-set Footage
- Planet of the Apes Dailies and Outtakes (No Audio)
- Planet of the Apes NATO Presentation (1967)
- Planet of the Apes Vintage Featurette (1968)
- A Look Behind the Planet of the Apes (1972)
- Don Taylor Directs Escape from the Planet of the Apes
- J. Lee Thompson Directs Conquest of the Planet of the Apes
- Original Theatrical Trailers
- Original Sketches by Costume Designer Morton Haack
- Photo Gallery
- Planet of the Apes Timeline
- Interactive Pressbooks
- Vintage Apes Newspaper Galleries
- Advertising and Lobby Card Galleries
- Behind-the-Scenes Galleries
We’ve also got a first-look at the impressive and massive box the five-disc will be housed in. It’s truly a thing of beauty but will create problems fitting onto a typical DVD shelf collection. Unfortunately none of the Apes films on Blu-ray will be available separately; at least not yet.
The Planet of the Apes: 40-Year Evolution Blu-ray box set carries an SRP of $159.98. Click each image below to open up a high-resolution view, and check back often for Amazon.com pre-order information.
