At long last, James Cameron's 1989 aquatic science fiction adventure The Abyss: Special Edition is set to make a splashy return to physical media on July 4th, 2023.

With new generations of home video enthusiasts on social media accounts like YouTube and TicTok discovering retro home video formats, The Abyss will come home with a massive 14-Disc Laserdisc set remastered from a brand new 4K Ultra HD Dolby Vision Transfer in vivid 420i with an immersive Dolby Atmos track presented in Dolby Digital Stereo. 

The Abyss: Special Edition 4K Ultra SD Laserdisc
Widescreen Letterbox Edition

Here's the full press release:

James Cameron’s

Coming to 4K Ultra SD Laserdisc July 4th, 2023!

Burbank, CA (April 1, 2023)

James Cameron’s 1989 special effects science fiction extravaganza The Abyss: Special Edition makes a glorious return to physical media with a brand new deluxe 14-Disc 4K Ultra SD Laserdisc set on July 4th, 2023. The last time The Abyss was seen on physical media was over twenty years ago on DVD.

After an extensive scanning, restoration, and color-grading process, The Abyss is finally ready to make its glorious return to disc-based media on the biggest and best format available. With the re-release of Avatar and Titanic to theaters and the colossal box-office haul of Avatar: The Way of Water - fans have eagerly anticipated the return of James Cameron’s most complicated and strenuous production.

Instead of more modern formats like Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD, it was decided to resurrect the long-dormant Laserdisc format for the ultimate home video release of this fan-favorite science fiction epic. After surveying several thrift stores and reaching out to A/V enthusiasts, we shockingly discovered that there were more people with Laserdisc players than there were currently utilizing higher resolution formats like Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray. More people enjoy the 4:3 Letterboxed visual experience on their 4K televisions - and this set is designed for them.

To those who may be disappointed by this news, Blu-ray and 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray editions will be available someday. The new masters are ready and have been approved, discs have been replicated, packaged, boxed up, paletted, and are ready to ship to retailers. We just don’t intend to release them at this time. To bring The Abyss: Special Edition back to physical media, we really wanted to make a splash by offering a unique viewing opportunity that only a select few will actually be able to enjoy.

The Laserdiscs will be housed in a glorious box set. Spread between seven beautiful gatefold sleeves featuring original artwork, newly commissioned artwork, and stills from the film. Also included will be reproduction posters, reproduction lobby cards, and a copy of the film’s third draft screenplay.

Transfer: NEW 4K Restoration and Dolby Vision HDR grading presented in 420i SDR NTSC For maximum picture quality
Each disc side offers approximately 10 minutes of the film. 

Aspect Ratio: 4:3 Widescreen Letterbox replicating the 2.35:1 theatrical experience

Audio Format: NEW Dolby Atmos audio mix presented in AC3 Dolby Digital Stereo

Bonus Features: Four Discs of New and Archival Bonus Features Including:

• NEW Audio Commentary featuring James Cameron
• NEW Audio Commentary featuring hypnotized members of the cast to minimize traumatic memories of the production.
• NEW 2023 Feature Length Retrospective Documentary “Diving into The Abyss”
• NEW 2023 Featurette Return to Deep Core
• NEW Recently Discovered Deleted Scenes 
• Archival bonus features include
• Text Commentary
• Storyboard comparison
• Behind-the-scenes footage
• Special Effects Reel
• And Much More

Basics:

Aspect Ratio: 4:3 2.35:1 Widescreen Letterbox

Audio: English AC3 Dolby Digital Stereo

Subtitles: English

SRP: $229.99

Happy April Fools Everyone - we hope you had a good laugh with this as we endure the ongoing frustrations of not having a genuine quality release of The Abyss or True Lies for almost two decades now. We've been hearing for ages now that these films are coming, but it's starting to become the "James Cameron Who Cried Restoration" these days. Maybe this will be like last year with our fake Criterion Collection announcement of Roadhouse in 4K and we'll actually get these great flicks on Blu-ray or 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray?