James Cameron announces ‘The Abyss’ drama re-release

For years, James Cameron fans have been clamoring for a high-definition home video release of The Abyss, his 1989 sci-fi film about a team of underwater explorers racing to save a sinking submarine. The film was a top seller on VHS, laserdisc, and DVD, and Cameron had the film reworked into a “Special Edition” which he also released on various home video formats in the 1990s. If you went to a video store regularly during that time, the black and blue cover Abyss box art is burned into your brain.

But The Abyss for whatever reason, never received a Blu-ray release, much less 4K. And I guess technically it still isn’t. But a revamped version of The Abyss Special Edition coming to theaters next month. And maybe after it’s re-released on the big screen, it will finally come to home video for Cameron’s bosses who have kept their faith in the project for so long.

Cameron himself announced the re-publication on his social media accounts, revealing that The Abyss has been “rescaled in 4K” for this return to theaters. really aiming to make a big surprise that was not seen in the original released version.”

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The Abyss stars Ed Harris and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as an unrelated couple at the heart of this deep sea rescue mission. Their struggle to work together despite their fractured relationship amid crazy big-budget adventure and spectacular special effects is the template for Cameron’s subsequent films; Real liesthe Avatar movies, and even Titanic to some extent. (Titanic it’s also a film about love set against the backdrop of a sunken ship.)

What nerds really want is Blu-ray (or I guess the 4K now); that has been high on the list of most wanted discs for several years. But I think having the opportunity to see the remastered film on a big screen is a good reason to delay that long-awaited release just a little longer.

Here is the trailer for The Abyss theatrical re-release:

Here is the official synopsis of the film:

In this underwater sci-fi adventure written and directed by James Cameron, a mysteriously sinking nuclear and private oil rig team, led by director Bud Brigman (Ed Harris), is recruited to join a team of Navy SEALs on a search and rescue effort. Soon the group find themselves on an incredible life-and-death odyssey 25,000 feet below the surface of the ocean, where they discover a mysterious force that could change the world – or destroy it. “The Abyss” stars Ed Harris, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, and Michael Biehn.

There is also a new poster for the re-release.

The Abyss 4K will play in theaters for one night only, on Wednesday, December 6.