Following the massive success of The Lion King 3D re-release last month, followed closely by the Blu-ray issue of the film, Disney have announced via a press release that they will be bringing a number of their classic films back to cinemas in 3D. Unsurprisingly, these will be the films that have made the most money for the studio over the years, including Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo, Monsters Inc. and our favourite, The Little Mermaid.
“Great stories and great characters are timeless, and at Disney we’re fortunate to have a treasure trove of both,” said Alan Bergman, President, The Walt Disney Studios. “We’re thrilled to give audiences of all ages the chance to experience these beloved tales in an exciting new way with 3D – and in the case of younger generations, for the first time on the big screen.”
- Beauty and the Beast – January 13, 2012
- Disney•Pixar’s Finding Nemo – September 14, 2012
- Disney•Pixar’s Monsters, Inc. – January 18, 2013 (Monsters University, a prequel to the original film, arrives in theaters in Disney Digital 3D on June 21, 2013)
- The Little Mermaid – September 13, 2013
The above dates are for the US cinema releases, of course, and will undoubtedly be different in Australia due to the scheduling of school holidays.
Beauty and the Beast, as Australian viewers will know, was already released in 3D for a limited engagement last year, just prior to the Blu-ray release of that film. With cinemas around the world loving the ability to charge extra for seats to 3D films, we can definitely expect to see more re-issues over the coming years.
