You can stop holding your breath, Dark Skies fans: Shout! Factory is finally bringing the complete sci-fi series to DVD on January 18, 2011.
Dark Skies: The Declassified Complete Series is the official name of the six-disc release. This news is so new that specifics are few and far between, though the set is slated to include the feature-length pilot ("The Awakening"). TVShowsonDVD.com is reporting the set is slated to clock in at 900 minutes. Thanks to that site's guru, Gord Lacey, for informing us that the 900-minute running time doesn't factor in bonus features, or the possibility of the international cut of the pilot, so that (like all things) might change.
The set is slated to list at the incredibly reasonable $44.99; Amazon had it up for pre-order at $34.99, but that listing has since disappeared and after a brief disappearance, the listing has returned at the even cheaper price of $31.49.
A later update from our friends at TSOD shows a very cool fake government memorandum "leaked" regarding the DVD release. You can check out their article here, which also contains a clickable version of the memo for you to read for yourself.
I can confirm for you that we will definitely be receiving a review copy of this set closer to its release date, so check our TV on DVD column in the coming months for an inside look at what you'll be treated to.
Congratulations, Dark Skies fans! You're finally getting your wish.
It actually makes perfect sense for the set to clock in at 900 minutes. Twenty shows that aired in an hour long time slot – 15 minutes of commercials for each show = 45 minutes of actual content per show. 45 X 20 = 900.
I'm not sure about that. It depends on whether or not that TRT includes whatever special features may be involved – some sets count that and some sets don't – plus whether or not the international cut of the pilot is included…I've heard it has a longer running time than the US version. It's just a speculation, however, so that could change as we get closer to the release date.
I’m not sure about that. It depends on whether or not that TRT includes whatever special features may be involved – some sets count that and some sets don’t – plus whether or not the international cut of the pilot is included…I’ve heard it has a longer running time than the US version. It’s just a speculation, however, so that could change as we get closer to the release date.
Shout Factory doesn't include bonus material in their running times. Of course the 900 mins Shout! Factory is using isn't exact, but an approximation (as nearly every set is).
Thanks, Gord! I'm aware that most sets are approximate – I've been doing this for awhile – but I wasn't sure exactly what that number covered.
The bonus features aren't even known yet, so how could that running time include them? Like the other responder said, it's an approximation based on the formula I posted. If the international cut is included, that might change as well, but the number as it stands makes sense for the running time of the episodes that we know will be on the set. That's all I was saying.
I appreciate exactly what you're saying – what I was saying is that there might be other things involved that we don't know yet, but maybe they do. At no point did I say this was not an approximation or subject to change.