Warner Bros. Physical Media

While we stand on the cusp of the transition of Warner Bros.' management as the Hollywood legacy studio will soon be under the control of Netflix, there may be a mad dash of sorts to get all their past physical media titles. Luckily, for years, Warner Bros. has also regularly licensed its catalog to boutique labels like Criterion, Arrow Video, and Shout! Factory, ensuring a wide range of titles are available, with some getting a luxury treatment they may not have received otherwise. What will happen to the library once it's placed [under Netflix](https://www.joblo.com/netflix-warner-bros-physical-media/)? Well, good news for collectors and TV fans! Some truly obscure titles may see the light of day in glorious 4K.

Iconoscope is born

News has been revealed on the official [subreddit page](https://www.reddit.com/r/VinegarSyndromeFilms/comments/1q29e6a/now_its_official_vs_has_a_near_40title/?share_id=f-iPAzMWM-uT5ZUczsywC) for the boutique label Vinegar Syndrome. An email has apparently been sent out, which announces the formation of Iconoscope. Iconoscope is a new sub-label of Vinegar Syndrome that will be utilizing new licensing deals with Warner Bros., and there are already 40 titles under the new distributor. The first title set to be released will be the 1973 horror film Don't Be Afraid of the Dark, which was remade with [Guillermo del Toro](https://www.joblo.com/review-dont-be-afraid-of-the-dark-02/) as a writer and producer.

According to the post, the announcement reads,

"The latest member of our Sub-Label family has arrived with Iconoscope, a new brand produced by VS master scanning technician and restoration artist Brandon Upson, and focused entirely on TV. That's TV movies, series, miniseries, and...who knows what the future will bring!

Kicking off the brand is the UHD debut of the 1973 made-for-TV chiller DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK, which makes its 4K debut from a brand new restoration of its original negative. Whether you remember it giving you the creeps as a kid or caught it on video, this beloved telefilm has never looked better. 2026 Subscribers can purchase this and all other 2026 Iconoscope releases at 50% off SRP. Remember to sign up for your Subscription first so the discounts take effect immediately and you don't risk overpaying.

Plus, DON'T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK marks the first in a nearly 40-title distribution license we've recently signed with Warner Bros! Not only will this bring plenty more made-for-TV classics and rarities to Blu-ray and 4K UHD, but get ready for an incredible assortment of horror, thrillers, action, arthouse, and other oddities from the Warner vaults, including numerous 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and even disc debuts."

The post has additionally revealed new merchandise for the brand with a new Iconoscope T-shirt that's available for purchase [HERE](https://vinegarsyndrome.com/collections/cloth/products/iconoscope-shirt).

£30 for a steelbook of a disc you can already buy for £20.

Limited to 600 copies and the release date is one years time.

Sounds a bit like they want to see if they can get 600 orders before they authorise the order themselves.

Yes, I'm a bitter middle-aged man. :-)

BETA AXE #1 | Solus SteelBook Limited to 600 Copies

Zavvi Exclusive 4K UHD SteelBook With Acetate O-Ring

Under the visionary direction of Brian De Palma and from a screenplay adapted by David Mamet, The Untouchables stands as one of cinema’s great crime epics — a bold, electrifying clash of good and evil set against the shadowy streets of Prohibition-era Chicago. Featuring powerhouse performances from Kevin Costner as incorruptible lawman Eliot Ness and Robert De Niro as iconic mob boss Al Capone, this is filmmaking on a grand, uncompromising scale.

The legendary Sean Connery delivers an Academy Award-winning performance as veteran cop Jimmy Malone, supported by a superb cast including Andy Garcia, Patricia Clarkson, and Charles Martin Smith. Stylish, operatic, and unforgettable, The Untouchables remains a timeless classic of the crime genre.

This exclusive premium release marks the very first official edition from BETA AXE, produced under exclusive licence from Paramount Pictures and crafted for true collectors.

The Steelbook design draws inspiration from the gritty newspaper print aesthetic of Prohibition-era Chicago, recreated in authentic halftone styling to evoke the look and feel of front-page crime reports from the time. Beneath the artwork, a subtle vintage street map forms the background, grounding the design in the city itself and deepening the sense of place. Finished with a tactile textured coating, the surface brings the piece to life in the hand, adding both physical depth and visual character.

Final design & contents subject to final approval

These are artist renders and not the final products

Zavvi is launching its own physical media label, BETA-AXE, next week. The company describes the new imprint as a home for exclusive limited-edition 4K releases, each “designed to be the best thing on your shelf” and restricted to a single print run. When a title sells out, Zavvi says it will not return to print.

The first BETA-AXE release will be unveiled on Monday, December 1, 2025, and is described as a “DELUXE STEELBOOK.” Zavvi has not yet announced the title or provided technical specs, disc details, or further release information.

It's Zavvi, so of course it's a steel book. Got to justify those (probably) high prices! 😂

The creator of the Star Wars Despecialized versions (The original Star Wars trilogy created by using all the best elements possible) speculates on the leaks indicating we could be getting a new 4K remaster of the original Star Wars trilogy in 2027.

Evade the law in NO ESCAPE (aka Escape from Absolom) in 4K Dolby Vision for the first time from a NEW restoration, including commentaries, interviews, featurettes, and more.

Revisit one of the most notorious video nasties with DAY OF THE WOMAN, including I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE in 4K HDR, the sequel I SPIT ON YOUR GRAVE: DEJA VU, and full documentary.

Sweatpants are in with THE DIRTIES from writer, director, and star Matt Johnson (Nirvana the Band the Show), including NEW interviews with the filmmakers and a not-safe-for-school shirt.

Join us for Tomato Day with LOOKING FOR ALIBRANDI from the NEW Umbrella restoration, including a stack of NEW interviews with the cast, crew, and Killing Heidi lead Ella Hooper!

Return to the dark corner of the video store for FULL MOON FRIGHT BOX VOLUME 3, four fiendish VHS-fuelled films including Puppet Master 2 & 3, Trancers, and Slave Girls from Beyond Infinity!

Embrace the weirdness with EBONY & IVORY from director Jim Hosking (The Greasy Strangler) including a NEW interview with executive producer Elijah Wood.

Exclusive to the Umbrella webstore for a limited time.

And I bet one of the extras won't be a documentary called The Sweatbox. A fascinating look at the making of The Emperor's New Groove and how terrible it was. For example, Sting was hired to write songs for the film which he duly did. But the plot was changed so much, his songs couldn't be used as they were no longer relevant.

The Sweatbox was only shown publicly a couple of times at film festivals in a Disney approved edit but was later leaked online. Links used to be hard to find but it's safely on the Internet Archive .

On a channel called TLC that will become free to air in January. No news on hosts or captains etc.

While Dwayne Johnson is shifting focus to more dramatic work with his latest outing, The Smashing Machine, an early film on his resume, when he was making the transition from wrestling to movies, has him playing a stripped-down role in the 2004 remake of Walking Tall. In this Kevin Bray-directed film, The Rock plays a military vet who returns to his hometown and becomes the new sheriff. Blu-ray.com has the details on a new 4K remaster from Kino Lorber set to hit retailers on December 9.

The description reads,
"When it comes to laying down the law with a vengeance, one man can make a difference. Superstar Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson (The Rundown, The Smashing Machine) takes no prisoners as he fights for justice and crushes corruption in this bone-cracking, adrenaline-pumping action-adventure inspired by a true story! When decorated military officer Chris Vaughn (Johnson) returns to his hometown in the state of Washington to find work, he finds that the lumber mill has closed and the town's big business is now a crime-ridden casino run by one of his old schoolmates (Neal McDonough, TV's Band of Brothers). Aided by his loyal friend (Johnny Knoxville, TV's Jackass) and armed with a two-by-four, Vaughn decides to take matters into his own hands and clean up the town's corruption in this action-movie lover's feast!"

Special Features:

DISC ONE -- 4K BLU-RAY

• NEW 4K MASTER SOURCED FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
• DOLBY VISION/HDR PRESENTATION OF THE FILM
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Journalist Brandon Streussnig
• Audio Commentary by Star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
• Audio Commentary by Director Kevin Bray, DP Glen MacPherson and Editor Robert Ivison
• 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio
• Optional English SDH subtitles

DISC TWO -- BLU-RAY

• NEW 4K MASTER SOURCED FROM THE ORIGINAL CAMERA NEGATIVE
• NEW Audio Commentary by Film Journalist Brandon Streussnig
• Audio Commentary by Star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson
• Audio Commentary by Director Kevin Bray, DP Glen MacPherson and Editor Robert Ivison
• Fight the Good Fight: Featurette (8:22)
• Deleted Scenes
• Alternate Ending
• Gag Reel
• Theatrical Trailer
• 5.1 Surround and Lossless 2.0 Audio
• Optional English Subtitles

Technical Specs:

• Video
  Codec: HEVC / H.265
  Resolution: 4K (2160p)
  HDR: Dolby Vision, HDR10
  Original aspect ratio: 2.39:1
• Audio
  TBA
• Subtitles
  English SDH
• Discs
  4K Ultra HD
  Blu-ray Disc
  Two-disc set (1 BD-100, 1 BD-50)
• Packaging
  Slipcover in original pressing
  Reversible cover
• Playback
  4K Blu-ray: Region free
  2K Blu-ray: Region A (B, C untested)