Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment Say No To A 4K Ultra HD Edition Of The Jungle Book On Sept. 13

In a pattern that has become all too clear, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment has elected to forego participation in the newly launched 4K Ultra HD format by not providing obvious titles for release — at least on a day/date basis this year. 

Two weeks ago it was a no-go for the Beauty and the Beast: 25^th Anniversary Edition promotion on Sept. 20.   Last week — and if there was ever a current theatrical release that was a perfect fit — it was again no, no, no to a 4K Ultra HD push for Captain America: Civil War on Sept. 13.

So it came as no surprise that on Wednesday afternoon, July 6, the Disney Store began taking orders for DVD and Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack editions — for delivery on Aug. 30 — of director Jon Favreau’s smash live-action remake of The Jungle Book … but no 4K Ultra HD edition could be found in the mix.

Disney’s PR people got around to confirming the Aug. 30 date the following day (Thursday, July 7) with a formal press announcement.

The ARR works out to 137 days and ticket sales stand at an eye-popping $359.9 million.

What does amount to something of a surprise is that Aug. 30 street date.   It would seem, and perhaps Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment knows best about such things, that a film of this magnitude would have found a higher profile release slot during the post-Labor Day period.    Sept. 20 or Sept. 27 would have been, perhaps, a more enlightened street date.

Another surprise is that this initial launch does not include a 3D Blu-ray SKU … if you saw the film theatrically in 3D was nothing short of spectacular.   Perhaps it will be later in the year for the release of a 3D presentation.   

As to bonus goodies, actor-turned-director (and producer) Jon Favreau provides commentary, there are two featurettes — “I am Mowgli” and “King Louie’s Temple: Layer by Layer” — and a 30-plus minute video session featuring Favreau, producer Brigham Taylor (Tomorrow Land, TRON: Legacy, Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End, etc.) and visual effects supervisor Robert Legato (Oscar-nominated three times, with wins for Titanic and Hugo).