Blu-ray Alert: Avatar NZ Release Announced

Roadshow Entertainment will release Avatar on Blu-ray on April 28 – a week after the 3D blockbuster begins its April 21 global roll-out to commemorate Earth Day.

In a press release, the distributor today predicted the 20th Century Fox release would provide “the ultimate high-definition experience ever for home viewing … The film’s masterful cinematography, art direction and visual effects lends itself to awe-inspiring clarity when viewed on Blu-ray disc.”

The winner of three Oscars is the highest-grossing film of all time, topping $2.6 billion worldwide, with much of this being derived from its 3D screenings.

However, despite this and the mid-year launch of 3D-capable TVs and Blu-ray players, a 3D Blu-ray of the movie won’t be released until 2011.

Indeed, to maximise the movie’s visual impact, all the Blu-ray disc space will be used for the movie — there won’t be any extras.

Producer Jon Landau told the Los Angeles Times: “We went to Fox and told them that, for this movie, we wanted to do something really special and reach for the best presentation of any film in the history of the format.

“This is a movie that has done the unexpected every step of the way. Fox agreed with us and the result is amazing. Everything that is put on a disc takes up room — the menus, the extras, the trailers and studio promotions — and we got rid of all of that so we could give this movie the best picture and sound possible.”

A multi-disc release will come out in November.