But is V2 set moratorium bound 4½ months later?
Universal City, Calif. — Over two years after its initial release, Universal Studios Home Video will re-release Back to the Future™ - The Complete Trilogy on Tuesday, January 25, 2005 at a new low price of only $27.98 SRP.
Universal's upcoming "OUTTA TIME" (sic) promotion tagline touts "Three Great Comedies — Two Favorite Characters — One New Low Price!", however, warns consumers to purchase the collection before it disappears — it'll be available only through Monday, June 6, 2005.
The collection will apparently be placed on moratorium after that date, presumably paving the way for another collection to be issued later in the year to commemorate the series' 20th Anniversary. While no official word has yet to have been given in regards to a new collection, Universal representatives outside the U.S. have reportedly been hinting to international fans that a special edition for the first Back to the Future film is being planned for release sometime during the second half of 2005.
Expect no announcement regarding any such collection though until well after the "OUTTA TIME" promotion has run its course early next year. Given the current promotional plans, it's highly doubtful that an announcement would come before the third quarter of '05.
As to whether the January promotion of Back to the Future™ - The Complete Trilogy will finally see the fabled "V2" replacement discs for the sequels to be made commercially available, I'm happy to report that consumers can finally breathe a sigh of relief.
A representative at USHV tells BTTF.com that they will indeed be manufacturing and shipping the V2 product to retail. However, we were alerted to the fact that some of the older product ("V1") will without a doubt enter the distribution cycle during the normal course of returns from retail and reorders, so consumers concerned about the version they are purchasing will finally be able to visually verify the presence of "V2" on the barcode sticker on the back of the box. Of course, if a V1 product is still purchased but V2 is preferred, Universal's toll free number (888-703-0010) is still active for providing these replacements.
