‘Star Trek’ Update: ‘Beyond’ US Blu-Ray Release Date, CBS Justifies ‘Discovery’ Delay, ‘Beyond’ China Box Office Slowdown
There’s been some disappointing news for Star Trek fans recently. The new TV series Star Trek: Discovery, set to premiere in January 2017, was pushed back to May 2017. Star Trek Beyond, the latest entry in the film series, underperformed in the US, and might be slowing down in China.
Some good news is also available as Star Trek Beyond‘s home video release date appears to have been officially confirmed earlier today.
Star Trek Beyond Blu-Ray Release Date For The US, Bonus Features
Exclusive: #StarTrekBeyond grt deleted scene, sets home release date Nov. 1 Bluray/DVD, DigitalHD Oct. 4. https://t.co/mCs6ds9EE8 @usatoday
— Bryan Alexander (@BryAlexand) September 20, 2016
USA Today reports that Star Trek Beyond will be available on Digital HD download on October 4, and on Blu-Ray/DVD on November 1st. For some additional confirmation, Amazon also currently lists the home video release date for Star Trek Beyond as November 1st. This corrects an earlier listing some had been reporting of a September 20 release date.
NEW: #StarTrekBeyond Confirmed for Nov. 1 Blu-ray (per @USAToday), Watch a Deleted Scene with a TOS S3 Callback https://t.co/BlZD4aQ7dP pic.twitter.com/fjuELkyPks
— TrekCore.com ? (@TrekCore) September 20, 2016
According to reporting on the Star Trek fan news site, TrekCore, there will be multiple bonus featurettes on the Blu-Ray release, including deleted scenes and material on the making of the movie.
Digital downloads on iTunes will also come with extras. TrekCore quotes the iTunes description of the bonus features.
“Step on board for an epic tour of Star Trek Beyond! Watch over an hour of behind-the-scenes featurettes with filmmaker and cast interviews, including Justin Lin, J.J. Abrams, Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto.”
TrekCore also reports that Target will carry an exclusive special edition release of Star Trek Beyond with additional bonus material on a second Blu-Ray disc. There will be at least 45 minutes of content not available on the standard Digital HD or Blu-Ray releases. TrekCore quotes Target’s description of the extras.
“Exclusive packaging includes 4-double sided collectible cards featuring 8 characters from Star Trek Beyond. Bonus Blu-ray disc with over 90 minutes of extras including 45 minutes of exclusive content: Get a behind the scenes look at the film’s incredible visual effects, costumes and props. Plus, see how Director Justin Lin and the cast and crew of Star Trek Beyond created the climactic Battle of Yorktown, and more!”
CBS President Justifies Star Trek: Discovery Delay
Following an announcement of the new series Star Trek: Discovery being pushed back to May 2017, some fans wondered if there were behind-the-scenes concerns endangering the show. The delay of Star Trek: Discovery was justified in a conference CBS President Les Moonves held with the press last week. Quoted by TrekCore, Moonves says he was “begged” for extra time. He dismissed rumors that the delay was a sign that Star Trek: Discovery was somehow in trouble.
“We’ve delayed our Star Trek [launch] ’til May. For those who think that’s something to be worried about, let me assure you: it’s not. The producers came into my office last week and begged me – they said, ‘We are creating an entire universe; you know how fanatical Star Trek fans are. We’re creating this universe, we need a couple more months to get the effects right, to get the world right. PLEASE let us have until May.’ With Star Trek, which is the family jewels, I’d rather it be a few months late – and great – than than early, and not great. Because we will suffer for it. So we made the decision to give them the time to make their perfect Star Trek, which we are wildly anticipating. In addition, we have the Good Wife spin-off, which was going to be ready earlier, so basically we just flipped their position [on] our calendar.”
The TrekCore staff assesses the fan reaction so far, which has been mixed. They are hopeful that the extra time will result in a higher quality show.
“While there are some fans who have expressed concerns (and complaints) that this delay means only bad things for Discovery, a great deal of reaction on social media appears to be some unsurprised relief that the show will have some more time to coalesce behind-the-scenes ahead of the public debut – and we’re inclined to agree.”
Star Trek: Discovery is currently set to begin filming in November of this year, according to Variety.
Star Trek Beyond Stalling Out In China?
Star Trek Beyond, in its third week after opening in China, dropped to fifth place overall at the Chinese box office. According to Box Office Mojo, Star Trek Beyond brought in $3,460,476 over the weekend in China. Since opening in China at the start of September, Star Trek Beyond has made $62,443,912 out of a worldwide total of $333,152,406. Although currently in fifth place, it is still remaining as China’s best-performing film from the West at the moment. The other top four films from this weekend are all Chinese productions.
Although a sequel to Star Trek Beyond has been announced, it is still unclear if that film will move ahead in light of somewhat limp box-office results. If it does, there is a chance the budget will be reduced to ensure better profits the next time around.
What do you think about these developments? Leave a comment below.
[Featured Image by Paramount]
