Warner Bros. has announced that it is bringing the 188-minute extended cut of Richard Donner’s 1978 classic Superman: The Movie to Blu-ray with a brand new 1080p remaster later this year.
Dubbed the ‘Salkind International Extended Cut’, the 188-minute version was created by producers Ilya and Alexander Salkind to be shown internationally on television, and features over 40 minutes of footage and music that wasn’t included in Donner’s theatrical cut. Here’s the official Blu-ray details:
Decades before blockbuster Extended Cuts were common, Superman proved a true “Man of Tomorrow.” Superman: The Movie received an ahead-of-its-time makeover for its television premiere – nearly 40 more minutes of story, creating a two-night television event. Audiences had already been swept off their feet by Christopher Reeve’s Last Son of Krypton, and now there was more to enjoy. Unseen in decades, this version is paired here with Richard Donner’s definitive vision of his film, the Special Edition Director’s Cut (2000), to create a supersized celebration of Metropolis’ favorite son that preserves the director’s intent while feeding superfan demands.
Special Features (on Superman The Special Edition Disc): Commentary by Director Richard Donner and Creative Consultant Tom Mankiewicz; 3 Documentaries Taking Flight: The Development of Superman, Making Superman: Filming the Legend and The Magic Behind the Cape; Screen Tests; Restored Scenes; Additional Scenes; Additional Music Cues; Music-Only Track