Burbank, Calif. September 17 , 2009 – Warner Home Video is creating a whole new way for muggles, wizards and Harry Potter fans to see the world’s # 1 film franchise.
Beginning December 8, the studio will release on Blu-ray and DVD the first two of eight Harry Potter Ultimate Editions. Each of the Ultimate Editions will include a new one-hour featurette that highlights a unique aspect of the filmmaking process and will be combined to make the complete 8-hour documentary, Creating the World of Harry Potter. Ultimate Editions include five hours of special features (one hour of which is the new featurette); theatrical and extended versions of the film; 48-page collectible photo book and other magical collectibles.
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone Ultimate Edition will have Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 1: The Magic Begins, in which viewers get an inside, in-depth look at the planning, creativity, personalities and other elements that went into the initial creation of Harry’s screen world. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets contains Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 2: Characters. Here fans get a first-hand look at the unique strengths of each of the films’ directors and what they brought to the principal characters in the Harry Potter film series. In addition, it will include clips of never-before-seen screen tests of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson, giving fans a chance to see how the characters have been transformed over the past decade.
With newly produced featurettes, both extended cut and theatrical versions included, premium packaging and themed collectibles, plus a Digital Copy of the theatrical film, the Harry Potter Ultimate Editions are bound to be irresistible gifts for this holiday season. They will sell for $49.99 SRP on Blu-ray and $39.92 SRP on DVD.
The Blu-ray editions include all the DVD contents PLUS the In-Movie Experience with director Chris Columbus – an interactive viewer experience where the entire film is examined with Picture in Picture, Storyboard Comparisons, Still Galleries, as well as BD live with access to worldwide events, special guest participants, community features and more.
The five Harry Potter films comprise the biggest film franchise in history, totaling a worldwide box-office gross, to date, in excess of $4.4 billion. In theatres now, the sixth and latest installment, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, insures that “Pottermania” continues unabated.
Day and date with the December 8 release of the new above-mentioned series will be the Blu-ray and DVD release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. The entire ensemble cast is back for the sixth installment of the record-breaking franchise.
The Blu-ray disc of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will feature Warner Bros. Maximum Movie Mode, an interactive viewing experience that examines the entire film with such features as Focus Points, Picture-in-Picture, photo galleries and more. Maximum Movie Mode includes commentary from director David Yates, producers David Heyman and David Barron, as well as cast members Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson and Tom Felton. The disc also includes Warner Bros. BD-Live™, which allows users with web-enabled Blu-ray players to access exciting additional content and connect and share with other BD-Live users. Another feature of the BD-Live interactivity is Facebook Connect, which allows users to interact with their friends from Facebook, update their Facebook status while in BD-Live and invite their Facebook friends to a Live Community Screening. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince will be available as a Blu-ray Combo Pack (Blu-ray disc, standard disc, Digital Copy) for $35.99, 2-disc special edition DVD for $34.99 and on single disc DVD for $28.98.
Complete List of Special Features by Title
Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone: Ultimate Edition
Welcome to the first Harry Potter Ultimate Edition! For the First Time Ever …
Uncover the intimate details of the search to cast Harry Potter and his friends • See Daniel, Rupert and Emma’s never-before-seen audition tapes • Be there with stars and filmmakers walking onto the set for the exciting first day of shooting • Learn about Chris Columbus’ critical, step-by-step decisions behind the creation of Harry Potter’s world on screen • Look back on an amazing decade’s worth of movies with Daniel, Rupert and Emma in new and vintage interviews never seen before. Plus: Exclusive Introduction by Daniel Radcliffe.
DISC 1: Theatrical Version
DISC 2: Extended Version with 7 Minutes of Footage Not Shown in Theatres.
DISC 3:
• Diagon Alley
• Tour the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry’s Room and the Great Hall – Welcome to the self-guided tour of Hogwarts, home of witches and wizards in training, and take in the sights.
• Classrooms:
• Defense Against the Dark Arts; Spells and Charms; Potions; Transfiguration; Third Floor Corridor; Deleted Scenes.
• Sorting Hat
• Library
• Gallery of Art & Architecture
• Hogwarts Yearbook
• Guide to Ghosts – Discover the many marvelous and mysterious ghosts of Hogwarts.
• Hogwarts Grounds
• Quaffle and Bludger – Get a lesson from Oliver Wood on how to play Quidditch.
• Tour Hagrid’s Hut – Welcome to the self-guided tour of Hagrid’s Hut, home of Rubeus Hagrid, the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, and his faithful companion, Fang.
• Extra Credit
• Interview – Capturing the Stone: A Conversation with the Filmmakers – Director Chris Columbus, Producer David Heyman, Screenwriter Steve Kloves and Production Designer Stuart Craig talk about casting and bringing the novel to life.
DISC 4:
• Introduction by Daniel Radcliffe – An introduction to the many special features for the Harry Potter films [NEW]
• Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 1: The Magic Begins – Discover the story of how one vision for the Harry Potter films came together out of limitless possibilities to create the visual world we have come to know and love. [NEW]
• A Glimpse Into the World of Harry Potter 2001 International TV Special
• Deleted Scenes
• Trailers and TV Spots
Disc 5
Digital Copy of Theatrical Film
Blu-ray Ultimate Edition
Includes everything listed above as well as the following Blu-ray exclusives:
· In-Movie Experience with Director Chris Columbus: An interactive viewer experience where the entire film is examined; includes PiP, Storyboard Comparisons, Still Galleries
· WB Maximum Movie Mode picture-in-picture programming, cast walk-ons, focus points, graphics and more.
· BD Live with access to worldwide events, special guest participants, community features and more.
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets: Ultimate Edition
Welcome to the second Harry Potter Ultimate Edition! A Whole New Realm of Discovery…
Discover the intriguing inside stories of why so many of Britain’s most celebrated stars took roles in the series • See the newly unveiled screen test between Daniel Radcliffe and Evanna Lynch (selected to play Luna out of 15,000 hopefuls!) • Go on the set to see firsthand how each of the directors brought unique strengths to the series • Witness the amazing transformations as Daniel, Rupert and Emma grow with their characters over a decade of unprecedented filmmaking. Plus: Never-Before-Seen Screen Tests of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson
DVD Special Features
DISC 1: Theatrical Version
DISC 2: Extended Version with 13 Minutes of Footage Not Shown in Theatres.
DISC 3:
• Deleted Scenes
• Lockhart’s Classroom
• Photo Gallery
• Certificates – Have a look at Gilderoy Lockhart’s many achievements.
• Required Reading – Find out what text books you’ll need for Lockhart’s Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
• Extra Credit
• Behind Hogwarts
• A Conversation with J.K. Rowling and Steve Kloves – The author and screenwriter detail how the books are brought to life, and the changes that happen in the process.
• Dumbledore’s Office
• Build a Scene – Building a scene as magnificent as Professor Dumbledore’s office takes more than wood, plaster, nails and paint. It takes imagination.
• Tour Dumbledore’s Office – Welcome to the self-guided tour of Professor Dumbledore’s office, one of the most fascinating rooms at Hogwarts.
• Interviews with Students, Professors and More
• Students – What would you ask the cast, if you could? Put yourself in the interview chair as the stars answer questions about making the film.
• Professors and More – Enjoy personal moments with the professors and others as they discuss their characters: Prof. Gilderoy Lockhart, Lucius Malfoy, Prof. Pomona Sprout, Molly Weasley, Arthur Weasley, Prof. Albus Dumbledore, Rubeus Hagrid, Prof. Severus Snape, Uncle Vernon Dursley, Aunt Petunia Dursley, Argus Filch, Prof. Minerva McGonagall.
• Gallery of Production Sketches
• Activities
• The Chamber Challenge [Game]
• Tour the Chamber of Secrets – What are you doing here? This place isn’t safe. Begin your journey down the dark corridor for the self-guided tour of the Chamber of Secrets.
• The Forbidden Forest Challenge [Game]
• Colin’s Darkroom
• Tour Diagon Alley – Welcome to the self-guided tour of Diagon Alley, where you can find all your supplies for the school year. Explore the many shops, such as Flourish & Blotts and the Magical Menagerie.
• Spellcaster Knowledge Challenge [Game]
• EA Game Preview
DISC 4:
• Creating the World of Harry Potter, Part 2: Characters – Explore how the cast and creative team of directors and designers take the characters’ descriptions on the page to the actors’ performances on film. [NEW]
• Screen Tests of Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson [NEW]
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Revealed – 2002 HBO First Look special
• Trailers and TV Spots
Disc 5
Digital Copy of Theatrical Film
Blu-ray Ultimate Edition
Includes everything listed above as well as the following Blu-ray exclusives:
• In-Movie Experience with Director Chris Columbus: An interactive viewer experience where the entire film is examined; includes PiP, Storyboard Comparisons, Still Galleries
• WB Maximum Movie Mode picture-in-picture programming, cast walk-ons, focus points, graphics and more.
• BD Live with access to worldwide events, special guest participants, community features and more.
