The Phantom from 1996
In the wake of Batman and its hit sequels, interestingly, movie studios wouldn’t necessarily snatch up more DC properties to adapt, but they did attempt to bring more classic pulp heroes to the screen with The Rocketeer, The Shadow and 1996’s The Phantom. While there was an animated series just two years prior with the purple-clad character trying to save our dying planet in the future with The Phantom 2040, the feature film with Billy Zane takes its cue more from Indiana Jones-esque action with its 1930s setting and globe-trotting adventure.
4K Blu-ray remastering from Kino Lorber
Last year, a 4K Blu-ray for The Phantom was originally slated to come out, Blu-ray.com now reports that the Paramount adaptation of the Lee Falk comic strip is now set to grace your TV screens in crisp ultra-high def 4K with a new Blu-ray from Kino Lorber this Spring. The new physical release of the Simon Wincer film, which stars Billy Zane, Kristy Swanson, Treat Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and James Remar, is scheduled to hit retailers on April 14.
The description reads,
“The Phantom, descendant of a line of African superheroes, travels to New York City to thwart a wealthy criminal genius from obtaining three magic skulls which would give him the secret to ultimate power.”
Special Features:
DISC ONE – 4K BLU-RAY
- NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE NEGATIVE, APPROVED BY DIRECTOR SIMON WINCER
- DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
- NEW Audio Commentary by Director Simon Wincer, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
- 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio
- Optional English Subtitles
DISC TWO – BLU-RAY
- NEW 4K RESTORATION FROM THE NEGATIVE, APPROVED BY DIRECTOR SIMON WINCER
- NEW Audio Commentary by Director Simon Wincer, Moderated by Filmmaker Douglas Hosdale
- Kismet in the Jungle: NEW Interview with Star Billy Zane (27:06)
- Slam Evil – Scoring The Phantom: NEW Interview with Composer David Newman (14:48)
- Theatrical Trailer
- 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio
- Optional English Subtitles
- Limited Edition Reversible Art and O-Card Slipcase
Technical Specs:
Video
Codec: HEVC / H.265
Resolution: Native 4K (2160p)
HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
Aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
Audio
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 (48kHz, 24-bit)
English: DTS-HD Master Audio 2.0 (48kHz, 24-bit)
Subtitles
English SDH
Discs
4K Ultra HD
Blu-ray Disc
Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)
Packaging
Slipcover in original pressing
Playback
4K Blu-ray: Region free
2K Blu-ray: Region A (B, C untested)
Billy Zane loves The Phantom
Billy Zane recently declared that Kit Walker aka The Phantom stands as “one of my favorite characters.” But the movie itself was a flop, with the June 7th, 1996 opening weekend finding it opening at #6, despite only one other title that week being a new release. As Zane remembered, “It got a lot of stick early on because it wasn’t edgy at a time when all those movies were going dark. I’ve always held a torch for what I saw as a dying genre, which was adventure. I was raised on adventure, and I think it’s so easily overlooked as how critical it is to young boys and girls.”
This action is what drew Billy Zane to The Phantom, saying, “I really understood the ethos of that, which is why I think I got the role. I just knew it and I was holding a torch for it… and it was a candle in the wind at the time, but then this thing came about, and I was, like, ‘A-ha! At last!’ It was something that would benefit from this weird adoration and fixation on all things Errol Flynn and Tarzan. A happy hero. Go figure! No issues. Well-adjusted. Animal friends. Man cave. Girlfriend. The family business. Life is good!”
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