Acclaim is nice and all, but in The Walking Dead, AMC developed their first unqualified hit. It's understandable, then, that the six-episode debut season merits two DVD/Blu-ray releases before season two premieres in October. Anchor Bay Entertainment today announced an October 4 release date for The Walking Dead: Season 1 - Special Edition in three versions: Blu-ray, DVD, and a collector's edition. The new release obviously adds a basketful of special features to the original season 1 release. The coolest looks to be a black and white version of the pilot ("fan requested," claims the press release). This matches the style of the colorless pages of the source comic, and creator Frank Darabont has previously demonstrated a penchant for B&W with The Mist. I mean, I won't spring the $50 for the DVD, but I hope I know someone who does so I can check it out.Find all the details in the press release after the break.
ANCHOR BAY ENTERTAINMENT GIVES YOU A COLLECTION TO DIE FOR WITH THE OCTOBER 4 RELEASE OF AMCâS âTHE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 1- SPECIAL EDITIONâ
Three Versions Available Oozing with Extras Including a Limited Edition Blu-Ray ™ Collectorâs Tin!
Beverly Hills, CA â âThe Walking Dead, AMCâs hit original series that Entertainment Weekly hailed as the âbest new show on TVâ, gets a new release on Blu-ray™ and DVD this fall thatâs sure to wake the dead! Anchor Bay Entertainment proudly releases the AMC® original series âTHE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 1 â SPECIAL EDITIONâ on October 4, 2011. Available in three versions (Special Edition DVD, Special Edition Blu-ray and Limited Edition Blu-ray Collectorâs Tin), each set contains all six episodes of the first season and is loaded with NEW behind-the-scenes featurettes, audio commentaries, extra footage and the fan-requested black and white version of the pilot episode. In addition to the Blu-ray special edition, a limited edition collectorâs tin contains an exclusive wearable zombie mask from NECA designed by the series own make-up artist, Greg Nicotero. The first 100,000 units of the Blu-ray and Limited Edition Collectorâs Tin together includes an EXCLUSIVE Cryptozoic âThe Walking Deadâ trading card.
In each version, all six episodes contain audio commentaries including award-winning Producer/Writer/Director Frank Darabont, Executive Producer Gale Anne Hurd, Executive Producer/Writer Robert Kirkman, Producer Denise Huth, Actor Andrew Lincoln, Special Effects Make-Up Artist/Consulting Producer Greg Nicotero and many more! A breakdown of each release follows:
All three versions include the following NEW extras:
- Pilot Episode:Â The B&W Version
- Audio Commentaries On All 6 episodes
- We Are The Walking Dead
- Bring Out The Dead:Â KNB And The Art of Making Zombies
- Digital Decay:Â The VFX of The Walking Dead
- No More Room in Hell:Â The Walking Dead Phenomenon
- Adapting The Dead
- Killer Conversations:Â Frank Darabont & Greg Nicotero
Each version includes bonus features from the previous release of âThe Walking Dead: Season 1â on DVD that contained the following:
- The Making of The Walking Dead
- Inside The Walking Dead:Â Episodes 1 â 6
- A Sneak Peek with Robert Kirkman
- Behind The Scenes Zombie Make-Up Tips
- Convention Panel with the Producers
- The Walking Dead Trailer
Extra Footage includes:
- Zombie School
- Bicycle Girl
- On Set with Robert Kirkman
- Hanging with Steven Yeun
- Inside Daleâs RV
- On Set with Andrew Lincoln
AMC's hit "The Walking Dead," which broke ratings records in its first season reaching more Adults 18-49 than any other drama series in the history of basic cable television,* returns for its second season this Fall. The series is based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and tells the story of the months and years that follow after a zombie apocalypse. It follows a group of survivors, led by police officer Rick Grimes, played by Andrew Lincoln ("Teachers," Love Actually), who travel in search of a safe and secure home. Shot on location in Atlanta, the series also stars Jon Bernthal ("The Pacific," The Ghost Writer) as Shane Walsh, Sarah Wayne Callies ("Prison Break") as Lori Grimes, Laurie Holden ("The Shield," Stephen King's The Mist) as Andrea, Jeffrey DeMunn (Stephen King's The Mist, The Green Mile) as Dale, Norman Reedus (âThe Conspiratorâ) as Daryl, Steven Yeun ("The Big Bang Theory") as Glen, Emma Bell (The Bedford Diaries) as Amy and Chandler Riggs (Get Low) as Carl Grimes. Season two of "The Walking Dead" is executive produced by three-time Academy™ Award nominee Frank Darabont, Gale Anne Hurd, Kirkman, David Alpert, and Glen Mazzara and AMC Studios. Greg Nicotero
*Source: The Nielsen Company. Live+SD. 1/1/93-12/5/10. A18-49, AA(000). M-Sa 8P-11P, Su 7P-12A. General Drama. Ad Supported Cable. Entire Series Original Premiere Series Airings Only.
Based on the popular Image Comicsâ comic book written by Robert Kirkman, the series premiered on AMC Fearfest Halloween night and immediately became the most watched drama series in cableâs history with 3.5 million viewers. It has thrilled (and chilled) both critics and audiences with its groundbreaking take on the living dead lore. Season 2 of âThe Walking Deadâ premieres on AMC this fall.
The specs:
THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 1 - SPECIAL EDITION Blu-Ray™
Street Date: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â October 4, 2011
Pre-book:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â September 7, 2011
Cat. #:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â BD23097
UPC:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0 1313 23097-9 8
Run Time:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 292 Minutes
Rating:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Not Rated
SRP:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $59.99
Format:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Widescreen (1.78:1) 1080p
Audio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â English Dolby TrueHD 5.1/French Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitles:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â English and Spanish
THE WALKING DEAD: SEASON 1 â SPECIAL EDITION DVD
Street Date:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â October 4, 2011
Pre-book:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â September 7, 2011
Cat. #:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â DV23096
UPC:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 1313 23096-9 9
Run Time:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 292 Minutes
Rating:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Not Rated
SRP:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $49.98
Format:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Anamorphic Widescreen (1.78:1)
Audio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â English Dolby Digital 5.1/French Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitles:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â English and Spanish
THE WALKING DEAD: LIMITED EDITION COLLECTORâS TIN (Blu-ray™ ONLY)
Street Date: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â October 4, 2011
Pre-book:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â September 7, 2011
Cat. #:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â BD23505
UPC:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 0 1313 23505-9 2
Run Time:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 292 Minutes
Rating:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Not Rated
SRP:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â $89.99
Format:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Widescreen (1.78:1) 1080p
Audio:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â English Dolby TrueHD 5.1/French Dolby Surround 2.0
Subtitles:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â English and Spanish