Paramount unveils initial Blu-ray slate

By Thomas K. Arnold

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter)- Paramount Pictures, which last year cast its lot exclusively with the ill-fated HD DVD home video format, is getting ready to re-enter the Blu-ray business.

Three catalog titles -- "Face/Off," "Next" and "Bee Movie" -- will roll out May 20 on the victorious high-definition format. "Bee Movie" was initially supposed to be released in March on HD DVD, the same day as the standard DVD. But when Toshiba threw in the towel on HD DVD in February, those plans were scrapped and "Bee Movie" came out only on DVD.

Two more recent theatrical hits will be released on Blu-ray Disc on June 3, "Cloverfield" and "There Will Be Blood."

Then, on June 24, Paramount will issue its first day-and-date Blu-ray Disc release, "The Spiderwick Chronicles." The film will be rolled out on Blu-ray Disc in key international markets, as well, beginning in July.

Also slated for international-market release are "Cloverfield" and "No Country for Old Men," beginning in August.

Paramount initially was one of two studios, along with Warner Home Video, supportive of both next-generation, high-definition optical disc formats. But in August, Paramount became HD DVD-exclusive, reportedly after a $50 million payment from the HD DVD camp.

Reuters/Nielsen