After much speculation, Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises has officially been announced for release on DVD, Blu-Ray, and Digital Download on December 4th, just in time for the holidays.
Entertainment Weekly initially broke the story, revealing details on certain bonus features and unveiling the limited edition ‘Bat Cowl’ collectible packaging. The limited edition comes with a replica of Batman’s cowl, broken from the violent brawl with Bane, which should make for a neat collectible:
Warner Home Video later issued a full press release (via IGN) further detailing the content of The Dark Knight Rises’ Blu-Ray release. The film will be presented in 1080p High-Definition with 5.1 DTS-HD Master Audio. We can assume that the aspect ratio will shift to reflect the differences between IMAX and 35mm photography, just like The Dark Knight Blu-Ray, thanks to Warner’s statement that they have created “a marriage of IMAX and 35mm formats by using the hybrid master to replicate the unique theatrical experience of integrated film formats.”
The release also specifies the full list of Bonus Features:
- The Batmobile Documentary: Witness all five Batmobiles together for the first time in history. Dive deep into every aspect of the most awe-inspiring weapon in Batman’s arsenal as you journey through the birth and evolution of this technological marvel and cultural icon.
- Ending the Knight: A comprehensive look into how Director Christopher Nolan and his production team made “The Dark Knight Rises” the epic conclusion to the Dark Knight legend.
- – The Prologue: High-Altitude Hijacking
- – Return to the Batcave
- – Beneath Gotham
- – The Bat
- – Batman vs Bane
- – Armory Accepted
- – Gameday Destruction
- – Demolishing a City Street
- – The Pit
- – The Chant
- – The War on Wall Street
- – Race to the Reactor
- – The Journey of Bruce Wayne
- – Gotham’s Reckoning
- – A Girls Gotta Eat
- – Shadows & Light in Large Format
- – The End of A Legend
- Trailers
- Art Galleries
- DVD copy
- UltraViolet Copy
It looks like a nice, hearty collection of material, certainly more substantive than anything found on the Batman Begins or Dark Knight home video releases. Still no Audio Commentary from Christopher Nolan – I would love to hear one from him some day – but this seems good enough for now.
In addition to standard Combo Pack and Collector’s Edition releases, The Dark Knight Rises will also be available in the three-film Dark Knight Trilogy Limited Edition Gift-Set, also available December 4th. It will feature a “collectable book that delves into the production of all three titles.” IGN also notes that Warner has promised an additional set, The Dark Knight Trilogy Ultimate Collector’s Edition, for release sometime in 2013.
For now, Warner has set SRP for the first Trilogy Giftset at $52.99, the standard Dark Knight Rises Blu-ray combo pack at $35.99, the Limited Edition Bat Cowl set at $39.99, and the standalone DVD at $28.98.
Which of these myriad of versions are you most interested in? Will be you buying The Dark Knight Rises on its own, as part of a set, or not at all? Sound off in the comments!
