Home Entertainment
January 24, 2007
“The Dukes Of Hazzard: The Beginning” DVD From Warner Home Video
(January 24, 2007 - Burbank, CA) — Warner Premiere, the new direct-to-DVD production arm for Warner Bros. Entertainment, and the Warner Bros. Home Entertainment Group rev up the General Lee to deliver "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning," the much anticipated direct-to-DVD prequel to the hit 2005 theatrical release starring Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott and Jessica Simpson. Taking its cue from the fun, sexy Dukes comedy that was first brought to life in the TV series, both the R-Rated and Unrated versions of "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" are due for release on March 13, 2007. For those interested in seeing a bit more of the wilder side of Hazzard, the Unrated version is loaded with raunchy additional scenes and materials.
"The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" features some of young Hollywood’s hottest rising stars including Jonathan Bennett ("Mean Girls," "Cheaper by the Dozen") as Bo Duke, Randy Wayne (ABC’s "Sons and Daughters") as Luke Duke, and April Scott ("Entourage," and formerly of "Deal or No Deal") as Daisy Duke. Joel David Moore ("Dodgeball," "Art School Confidential") takes a turn as Cooter while Harland Williams ("Employee of the Month," "Dumb & Dumber") plays hapless Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane to Chris McDonald’s ("Rumor Has It," "Broken Flowers", "Happy Gilmore") scheming Boss Hogg. Country legend Willie Nelson returns from the 2005 cast to reprise his role as Uncle Jesse. Nelson has recently been nominated for a Grammy® Award for Best Country Album in 2006. Other cast members include Trishelle Cannatella ("The Real World," "Las Vegas") Sherilyn Fenn ("Gilmore Girls," "Boston Public," and "Twin Peaks"), and Jennifer Hill ("Ice Queen").
"The Dukes of Hazzard is the perfect franchise to leverage for our first Warner Premiere production," said Diane Nelson, president Warner Premiere. "'The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning' features a sexy, young cast alongside extremely talented character actors whose comic timing and presence will have great appeal for our core demographic. Willie Nelson’s return to anchor the prequel will appeal to classic and new Dukes fans alike. All this packaged together with our filmmaking partners Bill Gerber, our returning franchise producer, Phil Goldfine and director Bob Berlinger makes this project an ideal way to launch our new division.”
The Dukes of Hazzard has proven to be one of Warner Bros.' most popular and successful franchise properties beginning with the instantaneously successful television series that ran for seven seasons from 1979-1985. The original TV series remains a hit with a whole new generation of fans after finding life in a popular series of DVDs. "The Dukes of Hazzard" was reinvigorated by 2005’s hit theatrical release which grossed $110 million at the box office worldwide and sold 5 million DVD units to date.
"WHV plans on making this release an event," said Jeffrey Baker, General Manager and Senior Vice President of WHV Theatrical Catalog. "Our sales team will provide retailers with massive support that will coincide with our marketing department's impactful consumer advertising and publicity campaigns. We are confident this powerful combination will result in heightened consumer awareness and will effectively drive interest in buying and renting 'The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning.'"
"The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" will be available in both the R-rated and Unrated versions at $ 27.99 SRP. The R-Rated will be available in full frame; the Unrated version will feature both full frame and widescreen formats.
Synopsis
When mischievous teenaged cousins Bo Duke (Jonathan Bennett) and Luke Duke (Randy Wayne) are arrested, both boys are paroled to the care of their Uncle Jesse (Willie Nelson) in Hazzard, sentenced to a summer of hard work.
It's not long before the Duke boys learn of Boss Hogg’s (Chris McDonald) plans to foreclose on Uncle Jesse’s farm. Together, with help from their frumpy cousin Daisy (April Scott), Bo and Luke vow to save the family’s property and its storied history of producing the best moonshine in all of Hazzard. Driving through Hazzard in the General Lee blasting its famed Dixie horn, the Duke boys join forces to make Boss Hogg’s life miserable, concocting one crazy scheme after another.
The action-packed film contains wild car chases and crashes, Daisy's hilarious, but ultimately successful transformation into every Hazzard boy's fantasy girl, and all the fun, sexy comedy expected from the The Dukes of Hazzard.
DVD ELEMENTS
R-Rated Version:
The DVD release of "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" R-rated version is filled with never-before-seen special features including: Hazzard County Character Featurettes: "The New Dukes"
"Daisy’s Dukes"
"The Birth of the General Lee"
"A Moment with Uncle Jesse"
"Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane"
“Duke Boys Swingin’” a Duke-ified music video for the upcoming single by Cowboy Troy & John Anderson
Movie trailer Unrated Version: The DVD release of "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" – Unrated also includes extra scenes and sizzling special features such as: Hazzard County Character Featurettes: "The Duke Boys in Drag"
"Meeting Dainty Hogg" Warner Premiere Warner Premiere is Warner Bros. Entertainment’s new production company focused on the development, production and marketing of feature-length content for the growing direct-to-DVD market. Warner Premiere is committed to being at the creative forefront in the evolution of quality product in the direct-to-DVD business, creating material that exemplifies the commitment to story, production and brand equity for which Warner Bros. is known. Warner Home Video With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.# # #
The DVD release of "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" R-rated version is filled with never-before-seen special features including: Hazzard County Character Featurettes: "The New Dukes"
"Daisy’s Dukes"
"The Birth of the General Lee"
"A Moment with Uncle Jesse"
"Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane"
“Duke Boys Swingin’” a Duke-ified music video for the upcoming single by Cowboy Troy & John Anderson
Movie trailer Unrated Version: The DVD release of "The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning" – Unrated also includes extra scenes and sizzling special features such as: Hazzard County Character Featurettes: "The Duke Boys in Drag"
"Meeting Dainty Hogg" Warner Premiere Warner Premiere is Warner Bros. Entertainment’s new production company focused on the development, production and marketing of feature-length content for the growing direct-to-DVD market. Warner Premiere is committed to being at the creative forefront in the evolution of quality product in the direct-to-DVD business, creating material that exemplifies the commitment to story, production and brand equity for which Warner Bros. is known. Warner Home Video With operations in 90 international territories, Warner Home Video, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, commands the largest distribution infrastructure in the global video marketplace. Warner Home Video’s film library is the largest of any studio, offering top quality new and vintage titles from the repertoires of Warner Bros. Pictures, Turner Entertainment, Castle Rock Entertainment, HBO Home Video and New Line Home Entertainment.