By A while ago we reported that J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot was overseeing a 4k restoration of Don Coscarelli’s 1979 cult classic Phantasm. I speculated that the remaster would be released to coincide with the fifth and final film in the series, Phantasm: Ravager. Turns out this is precisely what’s happening. Well Go USA Entertainment has acquired the rights to the Phantasm franchise, and has a full release plan for this year.
On September 24th (National Art House Theater Day), Phantasm: Remastered will screen nationwide at select theaters. Phantasm: Ravager will be released in theaters and VOD on October 7th. Also on October 7th, Well Go will release Phantasm: Remastered, Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead, and Phantasm IV: Oblivion on cable and VOD. (Phantasm II is out from Shout! Factory.) The entire Phantasm franchise ought to be out on DVD and Blu-ray by the end of the year.
Cult horror icon Angus Scrimm, who played The Tall Man in the Phantasm films, passed away in January of this year. It appears that all of his scenes for Phantasm: Ravager were completed. I sense that Phantasm: Ravager and this franchise release will all, in some way or another, be dedicated to the memory of Scrimm.
[via AV Club, Entertainment Weekly]