New Line continues with the supersized home video editions of Peter Jackson’s Tolkien epics. The company has announced that The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug will arrive on Blu-ray and Blu-ray 3D on November 4 in an extended edition with 25 minutes of additional footage, bringing the running time of this chapter up to 186 minutes.
The deluxe editions will also feature nine hours of supplements, including commentary by Peter Jackson and co-writer / co-producer Philippa Boyens, the continuing beind-the-scenes epic “The Appendices: Parts IX and X” and “New Zealand: Home of Middle-Earth – Part 2,” plus an UltraViolent Digital HD copy of the film.
It will also be available early to purchase in Digital HD form in late October.
While the supplements are always welcome – Jackson and company put a lot of love, care and effort into their behind-the-scenes documentaries and other disc extras – I’m sure there are some fans of the series who simply don’t want even more footage in a film series that has overwhelmed the original story with needless new characters and plots (some enterprising Tolkien fan is surely working in a Hobbit supercut that cuts out Jackson’s mythmaking expansions and streamlines the film to the book’s jaunty adventure tale).
The press release notes that the added footage “extends individual scenes,” which suggests that it is not adding yet more sequences and complications. And the timing, of course, lands the disc in the heart of the holiday gift-buying season and a month in front of the theatrical release of the third and final chapter of the series. So it probably count on solid sales. But is this what fans want, or just what they are willing to accept to complete the epic collection?
The complete press kit can be read below.
Calendar of upcoming releases on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital, and VOD
Smaug guards the treasures of the extended edition
THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG EXTENDED EDITION
A PRODUCTION OF NEW LINE CINEMA
AND METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER PICTURES,
THE NEWEST EPIC IN THE HOBBIT TRILOGY
ARRIVES ON BLU-RAY 3DTM AND
BLU-RAY™ NOVEMBER 4TH FROM
WARNER BROS. HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Extended Edition Features a 25-Minute Longer Cut and
More Than Nine Hours of New Special Features
Digital HD will be available in late October
Burbank, Calif., August 5, 2014 – The Quest through Middle-earth continues in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, from Academy Award®-winning filmmaker Peter Jackson[1], when the epic fantasy adventure is released as an Extended Edition on Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray on November 4th from Warner Bros. Home Entertainment (WBHE). A production of New Line Cinema and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, this extended cut of the second film in The Hobbit Trilogy includes 25 minutes of extra film footage that extends individual scenes, making this the must-see, definitive version for fans. Both versions of the Extended Edition include more than nine hours of new bonus features that will enrich the experience of the Trilogy as fans gear up for the December 17 theatrical release of the third and final film, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies.
Ian McKellen returns as Gandalf the Grey, with Martin Freeman in the central role of Bilbo Baggins, and Richard Armitage as Thorin Oakenshield. The international ensemble cast is led by Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Stephen Fry, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt and Orlando Bloom as Legolas. The film also stars Mikael Persbrandt, Sylvester McCoy, Aidan Turner, Dean O’Gorman, Graham McTavish, Adam Brown, Peter Hambleton, John Callen, Mark Hadlow, Jed Brophy, William Kircher, Stephen Hunter, Ryan Gage, John Bell, Manu Bennett and Lawrence Makoare.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition will be available as a 5-disc Blu-ray 3D set ($54.98 SRP) that features the Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray versions of the Extended Edition; and a 3-disc Blu-ray ($35.99). Both the Blu-ray 3D and Blu-ray include a digital version of the movie on Digital HD with UltraViolet.
The nine-plus hours of new special features boasts audio commentary with Peter Jackson, the film’s director/producer/screenwriter, and Philippa Boyens, co-producer/screenwriter, as well as “The Appendices,” a multi-part documentary focusing on various aspects of the film and the Trilogy. Complete special feature details are provided below.
SYNOPSIS
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug continues the adventure of the title character Bilbo Baggins as he journeys with the Wizard Gandalf and thirteen Dwarves, led by Thorin Oakenshield, on an epic quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and the lost Dwarf Kingdom of Erebor.
Having survived the beginning of their unexpected journey, the Company travels East, encountering along the way skin-changer Beorn and a swarm of giant Spiders in the treacherous forest of Mirkwood. After escaping capture by the dangerous Wood-elves, the Dwarves journey to Lake-town, and finally to the Lonely Mountain itself, where they must face the greatest danger of all–a creature more terrifying than any other; one which will test not only the depth of their courage but the limits of their friendship and the wisdom of the journey itself–The Dragon Smaug.
ALL-NEW SPECIAL FEATURES ON BLU-RAY 3D AND BLU-RAY
· Commentary with Peter Jackson, Director/Producer/Screenwriter and Philippa Boyens, Co-Producer/Screenwriter
· The Appendices – The Appendices Parts IX and X showcase an immersive multi-part history of the filming of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, covering pre-production in the various departments of the film in the months leading up to the start of principal photography, training, the work done on set and in the world of its digital effects.
· New Zealand: Home of Middle-earth – Part 2
DIGITAL DISTRIBUTION ELEMENTS
Beginning late October, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition will be available for download to watch anywhere in high definition and standard definition on their favorite devices from select digital retailers.
ABOUT DIGITAL HD WITH ULTRAVIOLET
*Digital HD with UltraViolet allows fans to watch a digital version of their movie or TV show anywhere, on their favorite devices. Digital HD with UltraViolet is included with the purchase of specially marked Blu-ray discs. Digital HD with UltraViolet allows consumers to instantly stream and download movies and TV shows to TVs, computers, tablets and smartphones through UltraViolet retail services like CinemaNow, Flixster, Target Ticket, VUDU and more. For more information on compatible devices go to wb.com/ultravioletdevices. Consult an UltraViolet Retailer for details and requirements and for a list of HD-compatible devices.
The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Extended Edition
Street Date: November 4, 2014
Order Due Date: September 30, 2014
Rating: PG-13
Run Time: 186 mins.
Blu-ray 3D: $54.98 SRP
Blu-ray: $35.99 SRP
What? There’s even more treasure?