Disney is gearing up to re-release The Lion King in 4K HDR and Dolby Atmos in early December, with The Little Mermaid expected to follow soon. More to come?
The Lion King on UHD Blu-ray
Disney has yet to comment on the matter but online retailers have started accepting pre-orders ahead of a December 2018 release date. The movie will be re-released as an “Ultimate Collector’s Edition”.
- “Celebrate the full glory of Disney's The Lion King as this magnificent coming-of-age masterpiece roars onto dazzling 4K Ultra HD for the first time! With humour and heart, breathtaking animation, and award-winning music, this much beloved story transports you to the Pride Lands and inspires generations of fans,” the UHD Blu-ray description reads.
The remastered version will feature video upscaled to 4K resolution and in High Dynamic Range (HDR10). It will also include a new Dolby Atmos soundtrack. The movie premiered in 1994 and has been released on a number of formats, most recently on standard Blu-ray in 2011 with HD resolution video and 7.1 DTS-HD MA audio.
The Little Mermaid next in line?
Notably, this is the first hand-drawn / animated classic film from Disney to make it to UHD Blu-ray disc. The list of Disney releases on the disc format is not very long, consisting mostly of recent titles, so fans are obviously excited to get their hands on remastered classics.
Disney is also rumored to re-release The Little Mermaid on UHD Blu-ray, possibly in 2019. No other classics have been spotted but it appears that Disney is gearing up to release some of its much-acclaimed catalog titles. Other Hollywood studios have already released several high-profile catalog titles.
The Lion King will come with a digital redemption code. While it has yet to be confirmed, we expect the movie to also be available in 4K HDR on online services such as Vudu. Apple iTunes does not sell any Disney movies in 4K HDR format.
The Lion King is up for pre-order in several regions, including on Amazon UK and Best Buy (CA). It will be released on December 3 in Europe and one day later in the US.
