STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS Blu-ray Available April 5

Remember when we had to wait years for Star Wars to be released on Blu-ray (or even DVD)?  Not this time! STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS Blu-ray Combo Pack will be released on April 5th, and, if you can’t wait that long, you can get the Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere version even earlier on April 1st.  Knowing they were making cinematic history, a full-length documentary on the creation of the film is included on the STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS Blu-ray as well as deleted scenes, actor and filmmaker interviews, and more.  Continue reading for more details on the STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS Blu-ray bonus features, and check out our spoiler-free review of the film.

Update March 25, 2016

Sneak peek of the deleted scenes from the STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS Blu-ray Combo Pack and Digital HD version of the film.  See “Finn and the Villager”, “Jakku Message”, “X-Wings Prepare for Lightspeed”, “Kylo Searches The Falcon”, “Snow Speeder Chase,” and “Finn Will Be Fine” on Digital HD and Blu-ray Combo Pack,
plus a special bonus deleted scene, “Tunnel Standoff” only on Digital HD or by redeeming the digital copy included in your Blu-ray Combo Pack.

Update March 14, 2016

“Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” premiered today at the Paramount Theatre at SXSW Film Festival today with J.J. Abrams, VFX Supervisor Roger Guyett, Supervising Sound Editor Matthew Wood, Co-Producer Michelle Rejwan and R2-D2.  The feature-length documentary is an in-depth bonus feature on the upcoming Digital HD and STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS Blu-ray Combo Pack.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - Special Home Entertainment Documentary At SXSW

J.J. Abrams introduces Star Wars: The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey at SXSW on March 14, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey

R2-D2 on March 14, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment)

Star Wars: The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey

Moderator Scott Mantz, Supervising Sound Editor Matt Wood, VFX Supervisor Roger Guyett, co-producer Michelle Rejwan and R2D2 speak during the Q&A after a screening of Star Wars: The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey on March 14, 2016 in Austin, Texas. (Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment)

Update March 11, 2016

The First Order landed in Austin, Texas today to celebrate the premiere of the documentary “Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey” at the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW) Film Festival at the Paramount Theatre on March 14th. The TIE Fighter will be stationed at South Bites at SXSW throughout the weekend for festival goers to experience the landing.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - The First Order Has Landed At SXSW

Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - The First Order Has Landed At SXSW

Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Star Wars: The Force Awakens - The First Order Has Landed At SXSW

Photo by Vivien Killilea/Getty Images for Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Update March 8, 2016

“Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey, ” a feature-length documentary will have its world premiere during the South by Southwest Film Festival (SXSW), being held in Austin, Texas, March 11-19, 2016.  The documentary, a bonus feature on the upcoming Digital HD and STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS Blu-ray Combo Pack, is an inside look at the making of this epic movie, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers.

 STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS

©2016 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 STAR WARS THE FORCE AWAKENS

©2016 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

The documentary will be shown at the Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin on Monday, March 14, at 12:00 pm. Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ BAFTA Award–winning and Academy Award–nominated visual effects supervisor Roger Guyett, Academy Award–nominated supervising sound editor Matthew Wood and co-producer Michelle Rejwan will be on hand for a Q&A following the screening.

Original post from March 5, 2016 follows below…

From Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment

Star Wars: The Force Awakens shattered box office records upon its debut to become the cinematic event of a generation with over $926 million domestic and $2.05 billion worldwide. Announced by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Robert A. Iger at The Walt Disney Company’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the epic movie will be available to own early on Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on April 1.  Star Wars The Force Awakens Blu-ray Combo Pack and DVD comes home on April 5.

Star Wars The Force Awakens Blu Ray Cover

Discover the complete story behind the making of Star Wars: The Force Awakens with in-depth documentary and bonus material that will take fans on an exciting journey behind the scenes.  Secrets will be revealed through extensive footage, never-before-seen deleted scenes, and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers. Bonus features include:

  • Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary.
  • The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie’s script.
Star Wars VII

TM & © 2014 Lucasfilm Ltd. All rights reserved.

 

  • Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars universe.
  • Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life.
  • Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren.
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

©2016 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

  • John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens.
  • ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider’s look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie’s visual effects.
  • Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe to help others.
  • Plus Deleted Scenes
STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS

©2016 Lucasfilm Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

 

Star Wars: The Force Awakens saw the eagerly anticipated re-teaming of original Star Wars stars Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill, along with Anthony Daniels, the only actor to have been in all seven Star Wars films, and Peter Mayhew. The returning cast was joined by newcomer Daisy Ridley, who beat out fierce competition to take the principal role of Rey; BAFTA Rising Star Award winner John Boyega (Attack the Block, Imperial Dreams) as reluctant stormtrooper Finn; Emmy nominee Adam Driver (Lincoln, Girls) as the villainous Kylo Ren, and Golden Globe winner Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis, The Bourne Legacy) as Resistance pilot Poe Dameron.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens was directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Lawrence Kasdan & J.J. Abrams and Michael Arndt. Lucasfilm president and eight-time Academy Award nominee Kathleen Kennedy and J.J. Abrams, along with his longtime producing partner Bryan Burk, are the film’s producers.

Having established a musical legacy with his iconic scores for the previous six films in the Star Wars Saga, acclaimed composer John Williams returned to score Star Wars: The Force Awakens, ultimately garnering his 50th Oscar nomination for it.

For even more images, trailers, and printable activity sheets for STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS, click here.  For more family movie news, be sure to follow Adventures by Daddy on twitter and “like” our facebook page too.

About Dave Parfitt

Married, father of two girls, and living in the heart of the Finger Lakes. I'm a runner with a PhD in neuroscience and a passion for travel.