Warner Eyes 2012 for ‘Casablanca,’ ‘Lethal Weapon’ Anniversary Releases

17 Feb, 2011 By: Ashley Ratcliff

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Warner Home Video next year will celebrate landmark anniversaries for classic films in its slate.

The Burbank, Calif.-based studio Feb. 17 announced a moratorium beginning March 28 in preparation for the 70th anniversary of Casablanca and the four-film “Lethal Weapon” series, which will commemorate its 25th anniversary. Warner in the coming year will provide additional details about these special edition releases, which will include remasterings, Blu-ray debuts, new bonus material, collectors’ editions and more.

Set in Africa at the start of World War II, Casablanca is the tale of a man torn between a woman he loves and saving lives by joining the fight against the Nazis. Michael Curtiz’s 1942 film stars Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman and Paul Henreid, and won Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Writing, Screenplay.

Lethal Weapon 1-4 brought together Mel Gibson (Riggs) and Danny Glover (Murtaugh) as LAPD detectives, whose on-screen chemistry helped perfect the buddy-cop genre, filled with high-speed chases and explosions. The series was directed by Richard Donner and produced by Joel Silver, and stars a support casting of Joe Pesci, Renee Russo, Jet Li and Chris Rock.