‘Michael Jackson’s This Is It,’ ‘2012,’ Possibly Others To Get 3-D Blu-ray Releases?

In the future, all movies will be apparently be retrofitted and re-released in 3-D. For now, though, we’re only hearing rumors of all kinds of old favorites being considered for a format upgrade. “Star Wars” trilogy, “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “Titanic,” and “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” have all been talked about for theatrical 3-D reissues. We have no definite confirmation on anything yet. Only speculation and heresy in the wake of “Avatar” changing the game for Hollywood.

Sony has at least now made a statement that they will definitely be converting many films from their library to 3-D for home entertainment releases, if not theatrical engagements. Bloomberg reports that the company, which helped develop and promote the Blu-ray format and which is now invested in 3-D Blu-ray players, 3-D Playstation games, 3-D television sets and a 3-D cable network, will begin releasing 3-D versions of old films as early as this April.

Which titles from the archives will be selected initially is unknown. Last month, Sony announced that their recent animated feature “Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs” would be the first film released on the new 3-D Blu-ray discs (which are different than the current 3-D Blu-ray releases that work with the old technology involving blue and red glasses). But that movie was shot for and theatrically released in digital 3-D. It will require no retro-fit conversion.

But will the consumers be ready? It could take a few years for people to warm up to and buy 3-D players and TVs. Sony believes such “non-content” equipment and products will be a $1 trillion business by 2013. Of course, the early adopters will need content right away; therefore the first crop of 3-D Blu-ray discs should be impressive and available when the first players and TVs are available this summer.

One more “but”: is the technology for 3-D Blu-ray good enough for this quickly planned library pilfering to be worth it for customers? Fox announced this week that “Avatar” will NOT be released to DVD or Blu-ray in 3-D this year because the studio doesn’t believe the technology is ready yet. This was a surprise given that James Cameron had appeared, along with “Avatar” footage, in one of the first ads for 3-D televisions, implying that this particular film would be the main incentive for such TVs to exist and be purchased. I guess we’ll just have to wait for whatever game-changer they’ve got up their sleeve for 3-D home entertainment down the line.

Will you be one of the early buyers of 3-D Blu-ray? What Sony titles would you like to see converted first? What other non-Sony movies would you like to see in 3-D?

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