'The Wizard of Oz'
In preparation of the 75th anniversary of The Wizard of Oz, Warner Home Video has put one of its all-time best-selling titles back in the vault until 2014.
Starting May 1, Warner will stop shipping all DVD and Blu-ray Discs of the title, with only The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary Edition two-Disc DVD available until this October.
“2013 will see the re-launching of The Wizard of Oz franchise in a multiplatform, unprecedented rollout,” said Jeff Baker, EVP and GM of theatrical catalog for Warner Home Video. “We expect 90% to 95% consumer awareness, with a kickoff event consistent with only a handful of titles that are considered the crown jewels of our library.”
There’s no blaming Warner for the moratorium: The Wizard of Oz: 70th Anniversary home entertainment editions cleared more than 2 million units, and to date there have been more than 10 million unit sales of the 1939 classic.
Details on the 75th anniversary version are scarce, though Warner does promise a new video restoration.
When first released, The Wizard of Oz won two Oscars: Best Song (“Over the Rainbow”) and Best Original Score.
If you are looking to own this classic before it goes away for a few years, for Future Shop has availability. We have the Steelbook Collectable Version, Bluray and DVD available online & in-store while supplies last from Warner Brothers.
