Paramount Home Media Targets July 25 For The Release Of DVD • Blu-ray • And 4K Ultra HD Editions Of Ghost In The Shell

Amazon.com began taking orders for a July 25 release of director Rupert Sanders’ live-action sci-fi film adaptation of the Shirow Masamune’s manga series, Ghost in the Shell, and the others (Wal-Mart, Target, Best Buy, etc.) quickly followed.

The ARR for that summer street date comes in at 116 days after the film’s theatrical rollout … ticket sales currently stand at $40.5 million.

Planned for release are a DVD edition, two Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack editions (one with a 3D viewing option) and a 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Pack.

Since Amazon.com jumped the gun — ahead of a formal release announcement from Paramount Home Media — details as to bonus goodies are lacking, but we know from WaxWorks’ latest Hot Sheet sales solicitation bulletin that “over 45 minutes of electrifying bonus content” will be available.

Ghost in the Shell was a difficult film for Paramount/DreamWorks to market theatrically in that the final product adheres too closely to its manga origins, which tended to limited its theatrical market to fanboys and allied genre fans.  

As with writer/director Alex Garland’s 2014 film, Ex Machina, the bigger societal issue at play is the rise of AI (Artificial Intelligence), not only as a robotic tool, but as a superior human replacement.   That can be pretty scary stuff. 

With Scarlett Johansson starring as “The Major” and the home entertainment launch on multiple platforms, Ghost in the Shell may well find a larger audience come July 25.  

Also on the way from Paramount Home Media are a trio of TV-on-DVD full-season releases that will be retail-ready for fans to enjoy on Aug. 15.

Paul Giamatti and Damian Lewis continue to play their high-stakes games in the four-disc collection of Billions: Season Two.  No word just yet on bonus nuggets that might be included with the presentation of these 12 episodes (one thing is for sure, a third season is on the way … expect the first Showtime broadcast in January of next year).

Also returning on Aug. 15 is NCIS: New Orleans: The Third Season, a six-disc collection that features all 24 cases (episodes) that came into Scott Bakula as Special Agent Dwayne “King” Pride — and his team’s purview.

Bonus features include selected episode commentaries, deleted scenes and an unspecified number of behind-the-scenes featurettes.   There is also a bonus “crossover” episode featuring the cast from NCIS.  

NCIS: New Orleans: The Third Season has also been renewed for another season … expect season four to begin airing this September.

Lastly, CBS Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Media will be teaming up on Aug. 15 for the DVD launch of Bull: Season One, starring Michael Weatherly as Dr. Jean Bull, the head of TAC (Trial Analysis Corporation), a jury consulting firm that uses hi-tech profiling techniques to analyze juries in structuring the best defense for clients that come his way. 

All 23 first season episodes are included here … bonus goodies include a gag reel, deleted scenes and featurettes.   Bull will return for a second season this September.