Fox to stop supplying James Bond DVDs for sale in Germany this January

06-Oct-2011 • Collecting

James Bond fans in Germany will have to act fast if they need to complete their DVD or Blu-Ray collection.

In a letter seen by MI6 to DVD and Blu-Ray stockists in Germany from 20th Century Fox, the distributor of the 007 series explains that they will be placing all Bond titles on moratorium from January 1st 2012. The company explains that the goal is to build hype and purchasing power ahead of the release of Bond 23 in November 2012. Keeping the titles off sale will create "optimal marketing conditions" later next year.

Only 12 of the 22 films in the official series have been released in the high-definition Blu-Ray format, as additional waves were cancelled during MGM's financial fiasco. It is understood that all work on the HD titles was completed ahead of the freeze. Since then, home entertainment distribution contracts have been re-upped with Fox util 2016.

As previously reported by MI6, a major DVD and Blu-Ray campaign is scheduled to be launched in Q4 2012 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of 007 on the silver screen, and to tie-in with the release of Bond 23 in cinemas.

It is expected that this moratorium will also take effect in other countries soon.