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Johnny Lightning finally releases BTTF diorama
Long-delayed toy latest in expected long line of new Future products
Some six months after it was originally expected to arrive in stores, Playing Mantis' Back to the Future diorama has finally arrived under the Johnny Lightning banner.
 Originally slated for release last December, the diorama was delayed due to licensing problems on the Austin Powers diorama that was part of the same release. Playing Mantis' odd practice of manufacturing case assortments of different types of cars held up both sets from the Johnny Lightning Dioramas Release 6 (formerly Release 4).
Collectors can expect to see the diorama in stores within a matter of days, which retails for $10.99. The sets have already begun appearing on eBay.
From the picture below, you can see that the set recreates the Twin Pines Mall parking lot scene. Included in the set are Doc's van & DeLorean, as well as figures for Doc, Marty & Einstein.
 German DVD Boxed-set arriving on September 26!
We just confirmed late last night with a representative for Universal Pictures Germany that the Back to the Future Trilogy DVD Boxed-Set is being planned for release in Germany (Region 2) on September 26, 2002. At the moment, they do not have final confirmation on bonus materials, sound format, etc., however we suspect that their release will be practically identical to the Australian release which was officially announced late last week.
Regardless of confirmation of the features, Amazon.de has now begun preselling the set. [Thanks to 'GrandmasterA' for the link!]
U.K. set coming September 9?
Also among other R2 news, we received an email from a reader in the U.K. who works at an electronics outlet there and they tell us that according to their upcoming release schedule, the set is scheduled for release there on September 9, 2002. We're told that this schedule is not always correct, and since our contacts at Universal Pictures International Video in London tell us that a date hasn't been confirmed yet, it's best to consider this a possible date but an unconfirmed rumor until we hear something further. [Thanks to the 'Swedishmeatballer' for the info!]
 Universal Studios Florida still planning for BTTF Ride retrofit?
Lastly, it seems that Universal Orlando president Bob Gault is still saying that Back to the Future...The Ride may be reworked somehow. In an article that ran in yesterday's Orlando Sentinel about themeparks revamping existing attractions, Gault was quoted as saying that Universal Studios Florida's most popular ride may someday be redone with a new story and new vehicles to replace the "venerable silver DeLoreans from the movie series."
This is a somewhat more encouraging than the first quote he gave the Sentinel on back on April 2 that Back to the Future...The Ride could someday be replaced with one from a more "relevant" movie. "The Back to the Future movie and the ride vehicles [replicas of 20-year-old DeLorean cars] are based on a popular movie from the 1980s," Gault said. "They could all be changed out for a story and vehicles that guests relate to better."
What this all means is anyone's guess at this point, but I wouldn't postpone those Orlando vacation plans any further if you want one last trip through time on the original ride before changes are made. Two quotes in less than two months must indicate that they're serious about making some type of changes in the near future. Stay tuned... [Thanks to 'Starbuck' for the article link!]
— Stephen Clark
Got a scoop? We're always looking for credible inside sources with information regarding the Back to the Future franchise. Your anonymity is guaranteed, so tell us what you know!
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