Universal Studios Home Entertainment Announces 'Wimbledon'

Universal Studios Home Entertainment Announces 'Wimbledon' Kirsten Dunst & Paul Bettany Star in This Summer's Winning Love Match From the Makers of 'Bridget Jones's Diary' and 'Notting Hill' in Stores December 28, 2004 'One of the Year's Best Romantic Comedies' - Melanie Moon, WB-TV 'Genuinely Funny!' . Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- From the makers of "Bridget Jones's Diary" and "Notting Hill" comes "Wimbledon," the charming romantic comedy starring Kirsten Dunst ("Spider-Man 2," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind"), Paul Bettany ("Master and Commander," "Knight's Tale," "A Beautiful Mind"), Sam Neill ("Jurassic Park III") and Jon Favreau ("Something's Gotta Give," "Elf"). A funny and entertaining story of spirit and splendor on the grass courts of the world's most prestigious tennis tournament, "Wimbledon" is "a sexy love match," according to US Weekly. This inspiring tale of romance across the net will make you believe that anything's possible when your heart's really in it. Loaded with intriguing bonus features, the DVD is $29.98 SRP; VHS is $23.98. Pre-order close date is November 23, 2004 for DVD and VHS. Score Big With Smashing Bonus Features The Wimbledon DVD serves up a full set of extras including: * "A Look Inside" -- Interviews with the cast, director and legendary tennis figures to take a look behind the scenes * "Welcome to the Club" -- Featurette on how the filmmakers persuaded the All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club to let them film there and why the hampionship is so special * "Ball Control" -- How the filmmakers approached the challenges of making a film about tennis including the serving rocket, CGI of balls and roofing the Centre Court for the first time * "Coach a Rising Star" -- A look at how the stars were coached by Pat Cash and the training regimes that they underwent * Feature Commentary -. With actor Paul Bettany and director Richard Loncraine Cross Promotions with The Tennis Channel and Prince The Tennis Channel is partnering with Universal in the Wimbledon DVD release promotion. The network will rebroadcast its special "Making of Wimbledon" documentary two weeks before and two weeks after the DVD's release, during which on-air promos will tout the DVD's availability in retail outlets nationwide. Each Wimbledon DVD will have a sticker promoting The Tennis Channel, to drive traffic to the network's "Making of Wimbledon," and the channel is also encouraging its audiences to visit TheTennisChannel.com, where the DVD will be supported with additional promotion and a "buy now" link to an online distribution partner. The Tennis Channel's viewers and Web site visitors also have the chance to win a trip for two to England, as part of a network sweepstakes where the winners stay at Wimbledon's Dorchester Hotel and visit the famed Wimbledon Lawn and Tennis Museum, the actual grounds where the tournament takes place. The sweepstakes is in conjunction with www.VisitBritain.com. Universal is also partnering with Prince to promote the Wimbledon DVD release in connection with its own advertising campaigns aimed at Prince tennis products and a sticker on the DVD. By November 2004, 5,000 units of promotional stickering of Prince products will feature "Wimbledon" key DVD messaging. In addition, the DVD will be promoted in conjunction with Prince ads in Tennis Life magazine, Inside Tennis magazine and Net News magazine, generating over 1,900,000 impressions. Prince consumers and dealers will receive email blasts promoting "Wimbledon" and banner ads will appear on Web sites including tennis.com, juniortennis.com, www.collegetennisonline.com and gotennis.com. Synopsis Pro tennis "hot shot" Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst) is a rising star who lives to win. But when she falls for a long-shot contender Peter Colt (Paul Bettany) amid the glitz and glamour of Wimbledon, Lizzie discovers it's not if you win or lose, but how you play the game...of love. A deliciously witty romantic comedy about chasing your dreams and risking your heart, Wimbledon is a fun and charming story of love across the net. For more information please visit: www.wimbledonmovie.com. CAST & FILMMAKERS Director: Richard Loncraine Screenwriter: Adam Brooks, Jennifer Flackett, Mark Levin Producers: Liza Chasin, Eric Fellner, Mary Richards Executive Producers: Tim Bevan, Debra Hayward, David Livingston Director of Photography: Darius Khondji Production Designer: Brian Morris Editor: Humphrey Dixon Costume Designer: Louise Stjernsward Music: Edward Shearmur Cast: Kirsten Dunst, Paul Bettany, Jon Favreau, Sam Neill, Kyle Hyde, Robert Lindsay TECHNICAL INFORMATION DVD Street Date: December 28, 2004 Pre-Order Date: November 23, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Price: $29.98SRP Selection Numbers: 25837 (Widescreen); 25838 (Full Frame) Running Time 1 Hour and 38 Minutes Layers: Dual Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 (Anamorphic Widescreen); 1.33:1 (Full Frame) Rating: PG-13 (for language, sexuality and partial nudity) Technical Info: English Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround/Caption; English Dolby Digital Surround DTS 5.1/Caption; French Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround/Subtitles VHS Street Date: December 28, 2004 Pre-Order Date: November 23, 2004 Copyright: 2004 Universal Studios. All Rights Reserved. Price: $23.98SRP Selection Numbers: 62832 (Full Frame) Running Time: 1 Hour and 38 Minutes Rating: PG-13 (for language, sexuality and partial nudity) Technical Info: Hi-Fi Stereo Surround Universal Studios Home Entertainment is a unit of Universal Pictures, a division of Universal Studios. Universal Studios is a part of NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates the No. 1 television network, the fastest-growing Spanish-language network, a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi Universal. CONTACTS Universal Studios Home Entertainment Vivian Mayer Senior Vice President, Publicity (818) 777-3594 Evan Fong Executive Director, Publicity (818) 777-5540 Craig Radow Manager, Print Publicity (818) 777-4572 Heather David Manager, Broadcast Publicity (818) 777-0549 Source: Universal Studios Home Entertainment CONTACT: Vivian Mayer, Senior Vice President, Publicity, +1-818-777-3594, or Evan Fong, Executive Director, Publicity, +1-818-777-5540, or Craig Radow, Manager, Print Publicity, +1-818-777-4572, or Heather David, Manager, Broadcast Publicity, +1-818-777-0549, all of Universal Studios Home Entertainment Web site: http:/// www.wimbledonmovie.com ------- Profile: International Entertainment