When Smallville announced it was in its final stretch, a new inevitability arose: when would fans get their 'Complete Series' DVD and Blu-ray sets? For now, the answer is still a vague "Fall 2011" (though it's going to be the same day they release the 10th season), but until then fans can begin pondering the question that every faithful fan of every TV show has to ask themselves. What to do when that 'Complete Series' set of your favorite show hits the shelves. For Smallville fans, I'm guessing this will either be a wash or a case of double-dipping (and selling off single season sets on craigslist or eBay), because part of the effort in keeping their beloved show soaring over Metropolis was buying up the DVD sets with gusto.
So what's the double-dip incentive? Some brand spanking new extra features. Hit the jump for details and a look at the packaging.
One of the biggest failures of studios, even for series that just ended there run, is the idea that you can repackage all the previous season releases and not offer anything new and still expect to coax longtime fans into double-dipping. It doesn't really work. However, given how connected the show's producers are with its fanbase (it's kinda scary how much they love one another), they've made sure to throw in some new stuff for the fans.
Here's the info they've released so far:
• Never-before-seen Superboy pilot from 1961
• 90-minute series retrospective with all new interviews
• 2010 final Comic-Con panel
• A Daily Planet newspaper written by DC Comics that highlights the important storylines developed during the 10-year run of the show
• Episode guide with never-before-released on DVD production art and behind the scenes photos
• And more!
What is 'more'? Who knows, but they have plenty of time between then and now to add even more, and I wouldn't be surprised. The show has continued primarily due to the outpouring of fan support - so a packed full series set would be appropriate.
In addition, exclusive printed materials include a Daily Planet newspaper, written by DC Comics, that highlights the important storylines developed during the 10-year run of the show and an episode guide with never-before-seen production art (storyboards/sketches) and behind-the-scenes photos. Smallville: The Complete Series is presented in highly collectable new packaging consisting of two lay-flat picture books that hold 62 discs.
It all seems great, but there is one exception. This set, from the looks of it, is DVD only - so if you've been buying up the Blu-ray releases of the latest seasons and can't stand to go back to SD, you might be waiting a little longer to indulge. I imagine there will be a flurry of remastering the first six seasons for Blu-ray release and then creating the Blu-ray 'Complete Series' set from that, however as of yet there's no definitive word on the matter.
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Starring Tom Welling as “Clark Kent,” Allison Mack as “Chloe Sullivan,” Kristin Kreuk as “Lana Lang,” Michael Rosenbaum as “Lex Luthor,” John Glover as “Lionel Luthor,” Erica Durance as “Lois Lane,” Annette O’Toole as “Martha Kent,” John Schneider as “Jonathan Kent,” Justin Hartley as “Oliver Queen,” Sam Jones III as “Pete Ross,” Cassidy Freeman as “Tess Mercer,” Aaron Ashmore as “Jimmy Olsen,” Eric Johnson as “Whitney Fordman,” Laura Vandervoort as “Kara,” Callum Blue as “Zod,” Jensen Ackles as “Jason Teague” and Sam Witwer as “Davis Bloome,” Smallville has also featured many notable guest stars including Terence Stamp, James Marsters, Michael McKean, Ian Somerhalder, Jane Seymour, Brian Austin Green, Pam Grier, Helen Slater, Michael Ironside, Julian Sands, Tori Spelling, Rutger Hauer and Christopher Reeve.
Superman was created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster. Based on DC Comics characters, Smallville was developed for television by Alfred Gough & Miles Millar. Its executive producers have included Gough & Millar, Brian Peterson, Kelly Souders, James Marshall, Michael Tollin, Brian Robbins, Joe Davola, Todd Slavkin, Darren Swimmer, Greg Beeman, Ken Horton and Tom Welling. The series is from Tollin/Robbins Productions, Millar/Gough Ink and Warner Bros. Television.
