Disney just announced that Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits DVD and Blu-ray on April 5th. Am I the only one who’s amazed at the turnaround time from the film’s theater release this past December to DVD sales? Not that I’m complaining in the least. The movie, which reintroduced fans to Han Solo, Chewbacca, Leia Organa, and the rest of the menagerie of characters from the original trilogy, broke dozens of records, made serious bank, and earned some well-deserved reviews and accolades. And the special DVD and Blu-ray features look fairly decent, all things considered:

 

  • Secrets of The Force Awakens: A Cinematic Journey – For the first time, discover the complete story behind the making of The Force Awakens, revealed through in-depth footage and exclusive interviews with the actors and filmmakers in this feature documentary.

  • The Story Awakens: The Table Read – Cast members familiar and new reflect on the memorable day they all first came together to read the movie’s script.

  • Building BB-8 – See how the filmmakers brought the newest droid to the screen, creating an instant fan favorite in the Star Wars universe.

  • Crafting Creatures – Watch movie magic as the filmmakers bring a cast of new creatures to life.

  • Blueprint of a Battle: The Snow Fight – Go deeper into the epic, climactic lightsaber battle between Rey and Kylo Ren.

  • John Williams: The Seventh Symphony – The legendary composer shares personal insights of his work on Star Wars and The Force Awakens.

  • ILM: The Visual Magic of The Force – An insider’s look into the remarkable digital artistry of the movie’s visual effects.

  • Force For Change – Heroes come in all shapes and sizes. See how the Star Wars: Force for Change initiative has united Star Wars fans all over the globe to help others.

  • Plus Deleted Scenes

While the featurettes focusing on the technical wizardry are all well and good, I’m personally most interested in “The Story Awakens: The Table Read,” as the writer and performer in me always finds it fascinating to hear about the process of the human element of performance that makes a story shine. Of course, I could binge-watch Inside the Actor’s Studio, so don’t mind me.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits Blu-ray and DVD on April 5th. (Employers, expect some folks calling in sick, as I imagine there’ll be quite a few fans engaging in Star Wars viewing marathons that day.) In the meantime, check out the newest trailer for the DVD and Blu-ray below.