New Line is serving notice that the standard DVD format will not bow to the birth of High Def. The Jul 23 DVD release of Final Destination 3 DVD offers unprecedented bonus features that rival the proposed interactivity of the next-generation formats. With the Final Destination 3: Thrill Ride Edition, viewers will be able to choose between dozens of different fates for characters via a combination of newly filmed alternate scenes. At a budget of $700,000 to $1 million, the extras are meant to continue the movie’s story line, in which characters are able to foresee they way they will die.

This spring and summer is the launch period for both the HD DVD and Blu-ray formats; a critical selling point for which is the promise of bonus features superior to those available on standard DVDs. “We’re not trying to make a statement about one format over the other,” , said Mike Mulvihill, New Line Home Entertainment senior VP of content development. “But the statement we are making is that New Line takes the technology seriously, whatever the format is.” Many DVD producers are thrilled to score an extras budget of $1 million given to this release. Mulvihill said the additional funds were necessary so the studio could involve the director and cast in creating the new material. “Our thinking is this will translate into incremental sales.” Mulvihill said of the ‘choose-your-fate’ option. “We can’t put a fine point on it, but our expectation with all of our added value is that it broadens the appeal of the movie to a wider audience.”

Source: Video Business