After weeks of rumors and leaks, Disney and Lucasfilm officially announced the home video release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Disney chairman/CEO Robert Iger told shareholders this morning that the film will be available digitally and on the disney Movies Anywhere platform on April 1. The Blu-ray and DVD will be available on April 5. A 3D Blu-ray release will not be available until later in 2016.
The studio also showed off the cover artwork. The Blu-ray/DVD set will have the same cover used for the CD soundtrack release, while the basic DVD will have an altered version of the movie poster that uses photos instead of art.
Of course, to really drive us crazy, there will be retailer exclusives, each with their own cover art. The Target edition includes an extra 20 minutes of interviews with Daisy Ridley and John Boyega. Walmart gets the exclusive BB-8 sleeve we saw earlier this week, plus an exclusive Star Wars Galactic Connections trading disc. Best Buy has an exclusive steelbook case.
Bonus features include (from the Disney announcement):
Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary
The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie’s script
Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars
Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life
Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren
John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens
ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider’s look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie’s visual effects.
Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe to help others
Plus Deleted Scenes
During its theatrical run, The Force Awakens grossed $2.05 billion worldwide, including a record-setting $926 million domestically. The film was directed by J.J. Abrams.