‘Avatar’ to be re-released with extra footage Aug 27

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LOS ANGELES - Academy award winning 3D sci-fi epic “Avatar” will be re-released worldwide with never seen before footage on Aug 27. Director James Cameron’s says he is doing so at public’s behest.

“Audiences repeatedly told me they wanted more of Pandora and wished they could have stayed there longer. So we’re making that possible,” said Cameron in a press satatement.

Titled “Avatar: Special Edition”, it is an exclusive for Digital 3D and IMAX 3D and will be released in limited theatres worldwide.

“ ‘Avatar: Special Edition’ will be exclusively in 3D and will have eight minutes of never before seen footage, including new creatures and action scenes. Whether you already love the movie or you’ve never seen it, with this special edition you’ll be seeing it like never before,” said Cameron.

Produced by 20th Century Fox at a whopping $230-million (Rs.1,200-crore) budget, it became the highest grossing film of all time, earning over $2.7 billion at the worldwide box office when released on Dec 18 last year. It is also the top-selling Blu-ray disc of all time.

The makers are also optimistic about a positive response from India, where “Avatar” crossed the Rs.1 billion mark in five weeks. It released here in English, Hindi, Tamil and Telugu.

“The re-release of ‘Avatar’ along with the additional footage will enable millions of Indians to once again experience the magic of the film in 3D. And with the significant growth of 3D screens over the last six months, we are excited that ‘Avatar’ will also reach out to new audiences in 3D across many more centres around the country,” said Vijay Singh, CEO, Fox Star Studios India.

“Avatar” was nominated for nine Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director and won three, for Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects and Best Art Direction.

Starring Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver and Zoe Saldana, the movie depicts the story of a wounded ex-marine thrust unwillingly into an effort to exploit an exotic moon rich in bio-diversity, who eventually crosses over to lead the indigenous race in a battle for survival.