Disney is looking to make some major changes with its catalogue as sources report that the House of Mouse is halting production on all 4K Ultra HD physical media editions of titles, including the entire 20th Century Studios library, according to Slash Film.
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In a report from The Digital Bits, it’s stated that Disney “does not have any plans” for new 4K Ultra HD releases for their newly acquired catalogue of titles in an effort to help build up the still-burgeoning streaming service Disney+, but that Disney, Pixar, Star Wars and Marvel projects will still be receiving these editions.
The news may come as a bit of a shock to fans of collecting physical media, especially given the entire 20th Century Fox library will not be giving new 4K releases as many of them have yet to receive one, namely classics such as Fight Club, The French Connection, and Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Sources do suggest, however, that Disney may offer the licenses to its “less-demanded” catalogue titles to indie distribution companies such as Criterion, Arrow or Shout! Factory.
Despite this, however, the studio is eying potential 4K issues of James Cameron’s Aliens, Avatar, True Lies and The Abyss given the filmmaker is currently working on sequels to the sci-fi adventure franchise for Disney, for which the House of Mouse is investing $1 billion across four films.
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Aside from new release titles, the only upcoming 4K UHD releases scheduled from Disney are Fox’s Home Alone and the cult classic Disney Halloween pic Hocus Pocus, both of which will hit shelves in September, though no official word has been given from Disney regarding their plans for new 4K editions.
