Since Toshiba waved
the white flag signalling the surrender of HD DVD in February, movie
studios are turning their attentions to Blu-ray Disc for the release of
high-definition content.
Universal Studios was the strongest content supporter of HD
DVD throughout the format’s life, but quickly
told the world that it would retool to begin releasing on Blu-ray Disc.
Last week, Universal Studios said that it would release about 40 Blu-ray Disc
titles this year.
The first Universal title to hit Blu-ray Disc that wasn’t
originally on HD DVD will be Doomsday,
which stars Rhona Mitra and Sean Pertwee, and is considered a box office slump
with just under $11 million take-in according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Other new pictures to hit high-def only on Blu-ray Disc are The Incredible Hulk, Wanted, Hellboy II,
Mamma Mia and The Mummy: Tomb of the
Dragon Emperor.
July 22 will mark the first Universal high-def movies to ship
in blue boxes, with the release of the first two Mummy movies and the spinoff Scorpion
King film.
According to Reuters
and the Hollywood Reporter, other
catalog releases to make the transfer from HD DVD to Blu-ray Disc before the
end of 2008 are American Gangster, Knocked
Up, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Miami Vice, End of Days, U-571 and Land of the Dead.