Zodiac: Two-Disc Director's Cut

[Jeff]

For those who were disheartened by the upcoming featureless DVD, Fincher's amazing disc producer David Prior mentions in a post at Home Theater Forum that a special edition is on its way, and an anamorphic teaser for it will be included on the bare-bones disc.

[flyonthewall2983]

I take it Warner Brothers is putting out the DVD, rather than Paramount?

[Jeff]

I take it Warner Brothers is putting out the DVD, rather than Paramount?

No. Paramount has North American home video rights. While Paramount isn't exactly known for their lavish special editions, this will likely be entirely produced by Prior and Fincher and turned over to Paramount for replication and distribution.

[flyonthewall2983]

Paramount has North American home video rights. While Paramount isn't exactly known for their lavish special editions, this will likely be entirely produced by Prior and Fincher and turned over to Paramount for replication and distribution.

Really? I saw the cover for it, and it looked more like a WB cover to me.

[Jeff]

Really? I saw the cover for it, and it looked more like a WB cover to me.

Here is an announcement attributed to Paramount at DVD Active. The also have a three-quarter perspective image of the box art, which you will note has only Paramount's logo on the spine.

[flyonthewall2983]

Gotcha. I forgot that Paramount dumped their original designs for the spec info on their packaging.

[Joe Buck]

I was really looking forward to seeing this film a second time. Now we get jerked around by Paramount. Why would I buy a no-frills edition or even waste $5 on renting it when they'll obvoiusly be a better edition down the line? This stupid game the studios are playing needs to stop. Their greed and stupidity makes me sick. Now I have to continue to wait to see the film again. F.U. Paramount.

[Jeff]

I was really looking forward to seeing this film a second time. Now we get jerked around by Paramount. Why would I buy a no-frills edition or even waste $5 on renting it when they'll obvoiusly be a better edition down the line? This stupid game the studios are playing needs to stop. Their greed and stupidity makes me sick. Now I have to continue to wait to see the film again. F.U. Paramount.

I'm not sure I understand how they are being greedy, and they're certainly not being stupid. They are letting us know up front that a better edition is coming later. The kind of special editions that Fincher likes to create take a great deal of time to prepare. If they were to wait and only release that edition, there might be a year-long window between the theatrical and video release. Fincher is in the middle of principal photography on his next film right now, so the wait could be even longer. Windows of about six months are necessary to optimize video rentals. Paramount has fiduciary responsibility to their stockholders. They would not be exercising that if they kept Zodiac unavailable for a year.

I don't think Paramount is trying to snow you into buying this twice (or even renting it). Fans of Fincher and the film are aware that a more thorough edition is in the works and will wait for that. The current version is just to satiate the Blockbuster monkeys who didn't bother to check it out in theaters. I don't think that the release of the "bare bones" edition is delaying or impacting the "special edition" in the slightest.

[flyonthewall2983]

He did the same thing with Panic Room as well.

[lord_clyde]

I don't think Paramount is trying to snow you into buying this twice (or even renting it). Fans of Fincher and the film are aware that a more thorough edition is in the works and will wait for that. The current version is just to satiate the Blockbuster monkeys who didn't bother to check it out in theaters. I don't think that the release of the "bare bones" edition is delaying or impacting the "special edition" in the slightest.

And yet we can get a stellar edition of Pan's Labyrinth or The Life Aquatic on time. I guess Del Toro did take his precious time on that Hellboy DC.

[Antoine Doinel]

And yet we can get a stellar edition of Pan's Labyrinth or The Life Aquatic on time. I guess Del Toro did take his precious time on that Hellboy DC.

Had Criterion not been involved with Wes Anderson from Rushmore onward, I doubt we would have received timely, lovingly crafted, special editions from Disney. Those films are a pretty huge exception to the rule. As for Hellboy, I seem to recall that special edition/director's cut was only put together once the studios realized they had somewhat of a cult hit on their hands.

As for Fincher, his films all have both bare bones and multi-disc releases (except for The Game in R1). It's not suprising we'll have to wait for Zodiac and if it's anything near as comprehensive as the Panic Room set, it will definitely be worth it.

Now, wouldn't it be something if it was a Criterion release as part of their Paramount "deal"; I seem to recall reading at some point that Criterion was interested in working with Fincher for a release The Game but they couldn't get the license at the time.

[a.khan]

Now, wouldn't it be something if it was a Criterion release as part of their Paramount "deal"; I seem to recall reading at some point that Criterion was interested in working with Fincher for a release The Game but they couldn't get the license at the time.

I had received this response, dated Nov 2006:

Unfortunately, we have not been able to secure DVD rights to The Game As you know we had it on laserdisc, but no luck so far for DVD. We'll keep trying.

Over a year or more ago, on HTF, there was talk of Prior working with Fincher on a super-secret DVD project. I don't know what became of that…I guess we'll never know for sure, until official details of the “Zodiacâ€

[Jeff]

And yet we can get a stellar edition of Pan's Labyrinth or The Life Aquatic on time. I guess Del Toro did take his precious time on that Hellboy DC.

Supplements for Pan's Labyrinth and The Life Aquatic were prepared while those films were still in production. I guess Fincher just doesn't like to work that way. He did manage to get the Fight Club DVD loaded up the first time out. That probably wasn't a possibility this time, since preproduction on The Curious Case of Benjamin Button began while Zodiac was still in post.

[lord_clyde]

In any case, I saw this film twice in theaters and since the studio was decent enough to warn me of a future definitive edition, I will take them up on it and wait.

[Jeff]

More words from disc producer David Prior on the future of the special edition director's cut DVD:

Before you all get too bent out of shape about the staggered release dates of the vanilla and the director's cut, you should be aware that it was only reluctantly agreed to by Fincher because I needed more time on the bonus material. The studio was locked into their release date (and bound and determined to release a single-disc, which nobody except them wanted), so Fincher allowed that to be released first.

It had nothing to do with Fincher "double dipping his own movie before it even makes it to stores" and everything to do with buying more time for the special edition.

Hope that clears things up. In the interests of full disclosure, you should also know that the theatrical cut will only be available on the single disc.

[Jeff]

Even though this is quite a way off, some of the specs and cover art for the director's cut are available.

* Commentary by David Fincher, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey, Jr., screenwriter James Vanderbilt, producer Brad Fischer, and special guest James Ellroy (L.A. Confidential)

* An in-depth examination of the Zodiac's actual crimes. Including all-new interviews with the original investigators, survivors and informants.

* Extensive behind-the-scenes supplements covering nearly every aspect of the creation of David Fincher's landmark film.

[Antoine Doinel]

Wow! Looks like it'll be a good package. I hope it features some of the early footage with Bijou Phillips in Chloe Sevigny's role. I also am curious to find out what the final running time will be. Mostly, I'm excited for the much discussed "black out" sequence.

[patrick]

I'll be interested in checking out both since I didn't see it in theaters, although I wish they would just include both cuts on the 2-disc version (I know they're worried about cannibalizing their sales).

Did Fincher really use "Baker Street" on the soundtrack? I can't imagine hearing that song and not laughing.

[flyonthewall2983]

Even though this is quite a way off, some of the specs and cover art for the director's cut are available.

That alone would convince me to buy this. Robert is such a hugely underrated actor, and this would be his first commentary, no?

[Antoine Doinel]

Nope - Robert Downey Jr. did a commentary track with Val Kilmer for Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

[flyonthewall2983]

Ah.

[dx23]

Hollywood-elsewhere.com is reporting that there will be a 2 disc Director's Cut DVD coming on 2008:

[Matt]

Hollywood-elsewhere.com is reporting that there will be a 2 disc Director's Cut DVD coming on 2008

Sorry, couldn't resist. To be fair to dx23, all the posts before his were moved here from the Zodiac film thread after he posted.

[dx23]

=D>

[soma]

Frustrated having to wait until next year for this, it's easily the best new film I've seen this year and I'm dead keen for some DVD action.