acording to digitalbits.com

Here's some news that's going to thrill a whole bunch of you Blu-bies. Warner has revealed, in a promotional insert packed with the new Poltergeist Blu-ray Disc, that it's currently working on a Blu-ray version of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring! No s--t! Not ONLY that, but the same insert lists The Wizard of Oz, Being There, Gone with the Wind, King Kong, Woodstock, Rush Hour, The Notebook and Amadeus all as coming soon to Blu-ray! How do you like THEM apples? What's more, our industry sources tell us that ALL THREE Lord of the Rings films are planned for release in Blu in 2009, though we're not yet certain if the discs will be the theatrical editions, the extended editions or both. Still, if that isn't enough reason for some of you holdouts to run out and pick up a player this holiday season, I don't know what is. Here's a look at the actual insert (not that the image links to the official Warner Blu-ray website)...

Knowing that all 3 of the LOTR films will be getting released next year has convinced me to wait for the inevitable complete boxset. So this is a big PASS ... for now.

Since they are Peter Jackson's preferred versions, I think the theatrical versions will be available somehow. Of course, the extended editions are great, and many are hoping they will be available too, preferably at the same time. I would like to have both myself.

I am hoping for seamless branching, and it's a possibility since they did the work for them on the last DVDs. (Not that it can technically just be ported over, but at least they have the "blueprint" so to speak.)

Awesome news.

I thought you were throwing up the insert??

Great! Now I can place those films next to the HD DVD of the Shawshank Redemption that came in out in 2006...oh wait a minute...

Or Saturday Night Fever from Paramount

OP was quoting digitalbits.com:

http://digitalbits.com/articles/misc...rbluinsert.jpg

No extended = no sale.

WTF there is going to be an "ULTIMATE COLLECTION" of Austin Powers now too?

It's just a standard box with the three movies in it.

As long as they release all three with both versions included, I'm game. Even though I prefer the Theatrical Cuts I want both versions to be on there. Depending on my mood sometimes I do prefer the other cuts.

Supposedly there will be some new special features for each movie. I pre-ordered it and I'm looking forward to seeing AP's hotties in HD.

That would be the main reason to get these films on Blu-ray, right? I can't think of any other reasons.

Wow...2006 how time flies...that ticked me off I was looking forward to SNF.

Well not for me,if they are in DTS-HD/MA I am in!!!!!! IF the transfer is as good as the ones that are out now then you do them in MA..... I AM SO IN!.......I haven't gone BD yet but the only Movie(s) that would really make me get one would be the Lord of The Rings Trilogy!.......!!! or a stand alone that bit streams MA for around $200 or under

We'll probably have branched theatrical and extended cuts.

But hold on fellers, these will be on more than one Blu-ray disc.

Sweet Jesus America how many special features did they film for this thing? It seems like every second of pre through post production was captured of film.

My original post was in response to the talks about the Austin Powers trilogy set and not the LOTR set. I'm sure there will probably be something extra in there as well but I can't say that is fact.

Maybe having the films in HD would be a reason?

Besides, even if you think HD doesn't matter for comedies, I don't think the first Austin Powers movie was ever re-released on DVD. It's almost 11 years old now (the disc, that is) and it must be showing its age.

Edit: whoops, it's 11 years old.

In for the a box set, nothing prior.

I can see it now... LOTR with DD5.1

Don't even joke.

ditto....ill stick with DVDs til an extended edition set.

But it'll have to be DD 5.1 so they can cram everything onto a BD25!!