In September, Marvel and Walt Disney Studios will bring
The Avengers to Blu-ray.
Firefly and
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon helms this action blockbuster, which finds S.H.I.E.L.D operative Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson,
Jackie Brown) leading a team of superheroes to do battle against fallen Asgardian god Loki (Tom Hiddleston,
Wallander).
Fury's "Avengers Initiative" draws together some of Marvel Comics' most iconic characters: Tony "Iron Man" Stark (Robert Downey, Jr.,
Iron Man), Steve "Captain America" Rogers (Chris Evans,
Captain America: The First Avenger), Thor (Chris Hemsworth,
Thor), Clint "Hawkeye" Barton (Jeremy Renner,
Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol), Natasha "Black Widow" Romanoff (Scarlett Johansson,
Iron Man 2), and Bruce "The Hulk" Banner (Mark Ruffalo,
The Kids Are All Right, replacing Edward Norton from
The Incredible Hulk, who in turn replaced Eric Bana from
Hulk).
Joining them is an impressive ensemble cast including Gwyneth Paltrow (
Se7en), Cobie Smulders (
How I Met Your Mother), Stellan Skarsgård (
Good Will Hunting), and Clark Gregg (
[500] Days of Summer).
Disney is offering the film in two HD iterations -
a Blu-ray 3D/Blu-ray/DVD/Digital Copy combo pack and
a Blu-ray/DVD combo pack. Both versions present
The Avengers in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio with 7.1 DTS-HD Master Audio tracks and the following supplements:
- Disney's Second Screen feature
- Commentary by Joss Whedon
- Behind-the-scenes featurettes:
- Assembling the Ultimate Team
- A Visual Journey
- Marvel One Shot: Item 47 short film
- Deleted/extended scenes:
- Alternate opening: "Maria Hill Interrogation"
- "Loki and Barton Strategize" (Extended)
- "Steve Rogers: Man Out of Time"
- "Nick Fury and World Security Council"
- Extended viaduct fight (w/raw footage)
- "Fury and Hill Discuss the World Security Council"
- "Banner and Security Guard" (Extended)
- Alternate ending: "Maria Hill Interrogation"
- Gag reel
- Soundgarden's "Live to Rise" music video
The Avengers streets on September 25th.
Update: Below is the official Blu-ray trailer.