Sony taking over Disney’s Physical Media Distribution

[eagle1]

https://variety.com/2024/film/news/d...ss-1235917294/

Wondering what, if anything, this means for 3D discs. I know Disney wasn’t releasing much, but they did release Avatar the way of water and recently the re-release of Avatar in 3D. Any worry that those won’t happen for the sequels? Is this an indication of things to come in other markets like Japan?

[Filmfanatic10]

Wow, that was totally unexpected. When I first saw the headline, I thought it was about Disney taking over Sony's physical media business, but it's really the other way around. Also, does this mean we could get new releases of more Fox, Touchstone/Hollywood Pictures and live action Disney titles in 4K or whatnot?

And if Disney had already left the Australian physical media market last year, shouldn't Universal Sony Pictures Home Entertainment be releasing their product in that market as well?

Anyway, yeah, first Lionsgate, and now Disney. SPHE is really energizing and bulking up with those deals.

[silentbob]

I worry for the Japan Marvel releases. Although I also hope Sony gives us proper non-neutered soundtracks for the releases going forward.

[jimcorenson]

According to JKR here nothing changes and MovieNEX will still be released as usual in Japan.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=119

[Zivouhr]

Originally Posted by jimcorenson

According to JKR here nothing changes and MovieNEX will still be released as usual in Japan.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=119

That would be good if Disney Japan continues with their Marvel blu ray 3Ds despite some of the recent shifts, thanks.

[BLMN]

This is just for the NA market, overseas will stay as it is now.

[RillIris]

Yeah my hunch is that Sony having the domestic rights may lead to more catalog titles being released domestically, and also via the international partners getting those same transfers as well, so potential win win on all fronts. Does make me wonder if as some contracts expire internationally though, if Disney might switch over to Sony in other territories as well though, which could be a negative for MCU 3D. Anyone have any clue what their Japan contract looks like, is that a concern down the line?

[jimcorenson]

Originally Posted by RillIris

Yeah my hunch is that Sony having the domestic rights may lead to more catalog titles being released domestically, and also via the international partners getting those same transfers as well, so potential win win on all fronts. Does make me wonder if as some contracts expire internationally though, if Disney might switch over to Sony in other territories as well though, which could be a negative for MCU 3D. Anyone have any clue what their Japan contract looks like, is that a concern down the line?

According to JKR here nothing will change. Disney is still the ones doing the discs.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=119

[RillIris]

At least the way he’s worded it makes MovieNEX sound like it’s own company, not exclusively a Disney branding thing, so my statement still stands. If that is the case and their contract expires in say 2026, what would be stopping them from moving to Sony or another company at that point. It’s always been my impression MovieNEX was just a fancy term for the Japanese “combo packs” from Disney and not some label Disney has partnered with for distribution in that region.

Thing also change all the time regardless, if you’d told me a couple days ago Sony would be putting out Disney movies I’d have probably laughed, but here we are. If it’s really successful for both, it’s very possible similar could happen with the international branches also, just not right away alongside this change, and might not even be with Sony necessarily either.

[jimcorenson]

Originally Posted by RillIris

At least the way he’s worded it makes MovieNEX sound like it’s own company, not exclusively a Disney branding thing, so my statement still stands. If that is the case and their contract expires in say 2026, what would be stopping them from moving to Sony or another company at that point. It’s always been my impression MovieNEX was just a fancy term for the Japanese “combo packs” from Disney and not some label Disney has partnered with for distribution in that region.

Thing also change all the time regardless, if you’d told me a couple days ago Sony would be putting out Disney movies I’d have probably laughed, but here we are. If it’s really successful for both, it’s very possible similar could happen with the international branches also, just not right away alongside this change, and might not even be with Sony necessarily either.

Nah what he is saying this is like The Warner / Universal deal and nothing has really changed with this on the Home entertainment front. Disney is still making the discs.

[swervin]

Does everyone notice the common denominator here? Disney. it seems to me that since Disney has went all PC and such it is killing the movie market, especially for 3D. I don't see Sony picking up and start releasing 3D again. Disney won't allow it. They are only concerned with Disney+.

It sucks but we are all gonna have to face the fact that 3D is almost dead. Only thing we will have to look forward to is the restorations from 3DFA. Not anything wrong with that at all. But the new stuff is going away. Won't be very long there will be no physical media of any kind. It's a sad thing but we knew it was coming. People who love 3D are the minority, not the majority.

[ryanmcv]

Originally Posted by jimcorenson

According to JKR here nothing changes and MovieNEX will still be released as usual in Japan.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...&postcount=119

I don't think this person knows what they are talking about. MovieNEX isn't a company. It's Disney's branding in Japan for Blu-ray combo packs that contain a digital copy. Kind of like how in the US, Disney brands many of its combo packs as "Ultimate Collector's Editions" or "Cinematic Universe Editions." MovieNEX is basically the same type of branding. It's still distributed by Disney, but they slap a fancy label on it so consumers feel like they're getting more value.

So I remain skeptical.

[RillIris]

Originally Posted by ryanmcv

I don't think this person knows what they are talking about. MovieNEX isn't a company. It's Disney's branding in Japan for Blu-ray combo packs that contain a digital copy. Kind of like how in the US, Disney brands many of its combo packs as "Ultimate Collector's Editions" or "Cinematic Universe Editions." MovieNEX is basically the same type of branding. It's still distributed by Disney, but they slap a fancy label on it so consumers feel like they're getting more value.

So I remain skeptical.

This is exactly my thoughts. I have a good feeling for Deadpool 3 making it for 3D in Japan, but can definitely see the situation changing by the time any of next years movies go up for order.

The part where I’m skeptically optimistic though, Sony are all about Dolby Vision, so hopefully we get better transfers for 4K releases thanks to the deal. Second Sony do license to boutiques, and have in the past to Random Space Media while they were around for 3D, so even if the Japan 3D releases end, there is still an off chance if Disney allows them a bit more full control that we might see 3D via a different boutique. Can’t remember the one that’s sort of picking up where RSM left off, but obviously that’s probably the most likely. I could even see very select MCU titles potentially getting licensed to like Arrow, and a release from them very well might be a 4K+3D set, at least for the initial limited edition release.

[T. Warren Scollan]

Does any of this mean ANYTHING for "Gorilla at Large"?

[BLMN]

Originally Posted by T. Warren Scollan

Does any of this mean ANYTHING for "Gorilla at Large"?

You really want this one don't you ?

Only and if when they decide to start licensing titles to other labels (here is distribution deal only with Sony in NA ). i don't see Disney doing it themselves to be honest.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by T. Warren Scollan

Does any of this mean ANYTHING for "Gorilla at Large"?

Probably not.

[emailking]

Hopefully it increases our chances of getting some Dinsey 3Ds like nutcracker, I just watched in UHD but would have loved a 3D version.

[the13thman]

Originally Posted by emailking

Hopefully it increases our chances of getting some Dinsey 3Ds like nutcracker, I just watched in UHD but would have loved a 3D version.

There are bootlegs of that one around - unfortunately that's Disney's approach to 3D at the moment, dump titles out on exclusive digital platforms and let the bootleggers and pirates make all the money. Hopefully that will change but I'm not holding my breath.

[emailking]

Well I like to get my movies legally. But I really don't think Disney is intending for pirates to make money off their movies. They just don't see it as a money maker for them.