Phantasm
• Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1), Enhanced for 16x9 Televisions (First U.S. Availability)
• Remastered Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Sound (First U.S. Availability)
• Audio Commentary with Writer/Director Don Coscarelli and Stars Michael Baldwin, Angus Scrimm and Bill Thornbury
• Phantasmagoria: The Making of Phantasm (First U.S. Availability)
• Phantasm: Behind-the-Scenes
• Phantasm: Actors Having a Ball (First U.S. Availability)
• 6 Deleted Scenes
• 1979 Phantasm Interview
• 1988 Fangoria TV commercial
• Angus Scrimm 1989 Convention Appearance
• Interview Outtakes (First U.S. Availability)
• Theatrical Trailers for Phantasm and Phantasm III
• TV Spots

Phantasm III
• Widescreen (1.85:1) Presentation, Enhanced for 16x9 Televisions
• Remastered Dolby Digital and DTS 5.1 Sound
• Audio Commentary with Stars Michael Baldwin and Angus Scrimm
• Phantasm III: Behind the Scenes
• Trailers for Phantasm and Phantasm III
• Screenplay (DVD-ROM)

2.19.07
DavisDVD brings FH its first piece of Phantasm DVD news.  The original Don Coscarelli film was released on Special Edition DVD several years ago by MGM, but now, Anchor Bay obtained the rights to release not only Phantasm on April 10th, but also, for the first time ever on Region 1 DVD, Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead!  No word on a potential release for Phantasm II, though.  Read on for the disc specs.

Anchor Bay Entertainment will re-release the original Phantasm on April 10th. The horror film arrives as part of the "Anchor Bay Collection" with a new anamorphic widescreen transfer, DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio tracks. Extras include an audio commentary with director Don Coscarelli and stars Michael Baldwin, Angus Scrimm and Bill Thornbury, deleted scenes, the 2005 feature-length documentary "Phantasmagoria," behind-the-scenes and "Actors Having A Ball" featurettes, 1979 promotional interviews, 1989 Angus Scrimm Convention Appearance, trailers and TV spots, including a 1988 Fangoria TV commercial.

Also due on the same day is Phantasm III: Lord of the Dead. This also features a new anamorphic transfer with DTS 5.1, Dolby Digital 5.1 and 2.0 stereo audio tracks. Extras include an audio commentary with stars Michael Baldwin and Angus Scrimm, a deleted scene, a  behind-the-scenes featurette, trailers and the screenplay via DVD-ROM. Retail is $19.98 apiece. 

6.13.06
PhantasmFilms.com report that all plans for the "new Phantasm Trilogy" are completely off.  The deal fell through, and there are no current plans for Phantasm to continue in one form or another.  Same old thing we've heard for the last eight years.  Really damn sad.  We may never see the conclusion to this cult classic franchise because Angus Scrimm isn't getting any younger.  Here's what the website had to say:

Don Coscarelli is the man horror genre fans want to keep up with. He’s got not one, not two, but three cult successes under his belt, with fans waiting anxiously for additional chapters to come whenever Coscarelli gets the itch (and the funding) to make more. Well, Icons of Fright caught up with Coscarelli at the NYC Horror Film Festival and got word on two of those franchises.

First of all, Coscarelli put to rest the rumors of a new Phantasm trilogy. While the possibility of more “Tall Man” did at one point exist, word got out before the deal was finalized. For reasons unknown, the deal is now off, so no more silver spheres to haunt fans for now.

On the more recent front, Coscarelli states he still wants to do a sequel to Bubba Ho Tep and that Bruce Campbell is “rarin’ to go again”. This is interesting since Bruce has been saying the contrary during recent promotional tours for The Man with the Screaming Brain. The studio that financed Bubba Ho Tep is no more, so some money will have to exchange hands before a sequel could become possible anyway.

3.14.05
Phantasm's End has gotten some friendly and informative words from series star and musician Reggie Bannister about the developments with New Line Cinema.

Last night Reggie Bannister and his lovely wife Gigi had a chat room session with the phans.  It was great fun, and if you weren't there, there are partial transcripts floating around the forum.  Anyway, we shot all the important questions at Reg on the remake movies, and here's what we got back:

 • No casting is set in stone, but New Line are keen to bring in Bruce Campbell at some point.
 • Reggie is supposed to be in it, but be sure to voice your support online that Bannister is the only Reggie you'll accept, so the moneymen don't get any funny ideas!
 • Reggie spoke to Angus about appearing in the new films, Angus said simply "WHY NOT?"
 • Michael Baldwin has a good chance at making a cameo.
 • Don't give up on the Phantasm's End sequel script yet.  There's still 'talk'.
 • This is truly going to be a relaunch rather then remake.  Reg said in the beginning it will be similar to Phantasm 1, but halfway through just go off into complete unpredictable Phantasmland.
 • The executive who sphereheaded (pun intended) the project, Jeff Katz, is a diehard phan who will lay his ass on the line to protect the integrity of the franchise!
 • He confirmed the ponytail will be back BABY!

How cool is all that info? Pumped for the new films? Thanks to Reggie and Gigi for taking well over an hour of their time to boogie down with phans and hemitallman for setting the whole thing up! Expect MORE news on the new films, MORE interviews and MORE exclusive chats here at phantasmsend.com in the future!

I guess it's safe to say that it was Jeff Katz that informed me of this project two years ago, and he was indeed very enthusiastic about it.  Not to mention, intent on protecting the integrity of the franchise.  I'm glad to know that New Line has dedicated so much time and energy to this project, and I believe they'll handle this very sensibly and respectfully.  Everyone should make their voices heard, and even contact New Line directly via their official site's contact page.  I couldn't find a postal address to write to, but maybe you can while sifting through NewLine.com.  Also, New Line has posted an official press release here.

3.10.05
Well, Bloody Disgusting and the Hollywood Reporter have broken some MAJOR Phantasm news, and it concerns New Line Cinema purchasing the rights to the entire franchise!  Read on for all the details followed by my comments.

According Hollywood Reporter: 
New Line Cinema is in final negotiations with filmmaker Don Coscarelli to bring the cult horror film "Phantasm" back to the big screen. The first "Phantasm," which Coscarelli wrote and directed, was released in 1979. It told the story of a young boy named Mike and his friends, who face off against a mysterious grave robber known as the Tall Man and his killer flying spheres. The film spawned three sequels, all of which were made by Coscarelli. Coscarelli would act as producer on the new version, in which the Tall Man travels from town to town turning the dead into his own army and using his deadly spheres against anyone who opposes him. Mike, who is developing psychic powers, and his brother try to stop him. The movie is being developed as a relaunch and as a possible trilogy about Mike's coming of age. 

Exclusive News: 

We've been holding this news tight in our pocket for quit sometime now and it's finally time to reveal the goods. Here's what we can tell you: 

-Obviously the spheres will be receiving a major upgrade. 
- The PLAN is to keep Angus Scrimm as the Tallman, but nothing can be guaranteed yet 
-This will be the "Definitive Phantasm trilogy." 
-This "will be the 'Star Wars' of Horror." 
-Mike "will be become the Luke Skywalker of Horror." 
-"It's more of a re-launch than a remake." 

We'll have more for you in the coming weeks, as well as word from Don himself! 

What this all means towards the supposed fifth and final installment in the Phantasm film legacy is unknown.  Is this starting over fresh, and reconstructing the entire mythos as Coscarelli originally intended it to be?  That might be very possible, but we've waited over 25 years for the greatest mysteries in all of franchise horror to be answered.  Though, if starting fresh and constructing everything as it was meant to be is what Coscarelli truly wants, I won't go against it.  The franchise has been forced into many detours and short cuts because of the studios butting into Coscarelli's vision, and a fresh start would allow Don to make the Phantasm saga into what he always intended it to be instead of postponing everything until the right budget came along.  My contact at New Line mentioned something of this sort to me nearly two years ago saying that they had a project in mind for Phantasm that wasn't a sequel nor was it a remake.  This confirms as much, and I'm taking it as truth.  I will keep you updated on the further developments of this new deal.

2.22.04
PhantasmsEnd.com reported back in October that "PHANTASM III: LORD OF THE DEAD" is set for Region 1 DVD release in 2005.  No specs or anything of the sort have been made known.  The home video ditribution copyrights for "PHANTASM II" are still in the hands of Universal Home Video, and they have yet to announce any plans for releasing "PHANTASM II" on Region 1 DVD.