Continuing its unwavering support for the Blu-ray format, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment announced today the first wave of feature films to be released by the studio on the much-anticipated new Blu-ray Disc (BD) platform. The broad range of titles chosen will optimally demonstrate the next generation format’s superior high-definition audio and visual elements. The initial titles in development include such action-packed blockbusters as FANTASTIC FOUR, THE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN, BEHIND ENEMY LINES and KISS OF THE DRAGON, the CGI-animated comedy ICE AGE along with many others that will bring Fox’s total number of first wave releases to 20 titles. The company plans to debut its initial line-up of BD titles to coincide with the Blu-ray hardware launches in North America, Japan and Europe in 2006. Twentieth Century Fox will also plan simultaneous releases of its films on BD and DVD as the format takes hold and household penetration grows.

“Blu-ray is the superior high definition technology that fully delivers on the promise of a next generation format and represents the bright future of home entertainment,” noted Mike Dunn, President Worldwide, Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment in a statement. “The release of our films on Blu-ray will provide consumers with in-home entertainment beyond anything they have imagined.”

Fox’s commitment to emerging technologies is dedicated to enhancing the consumer experience of its products and providing for backward compatibility with their existing home entertainment libraries while also aggressively protecting its intellectual property from piracy. The Blu-ray member companies fully embrace the Studio’s steadfast commitment to the fight against piracy and the preservation of the integrity of its properties. Twentieth Century Fox joined the Board of Directors of the Blu-ray Disc Association in 2004 and remains an active contributor to the formats continuing development.

The Blu-ray Disc Association (BDA) is responsible for establishing format standards and promoting and further developing business opportunities for Blu-ray Disc — the next-generation optical disc for storing high-definition movies, photos and other digital content. The BDA has more than 160 members. Its Board of Directors consists of Apple Computer, Inc.; Dell Inc.; Hewlett Packard Company; Hitachi, Ltd.; LG Electronics Inc.; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; Panasonic (Matsushita Electric); Pioneer Corporation; Royal Philips Electronics; Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.; Sharp Corporation; Sony Corporation; TDK Corporation; Thomson; Twentieth Century Fox; and Walt Disney Pictures and Television.

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