Lionsgate has joined with American Zoetrope for a multiyear distribution deal, and they have just announced that Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now will be coming to Blu-ray! The release boasts new transfers for both versions of the film and there will be two deluxe editions to choose from. The first edition will be a 2-disc affair with both versions of the film, as well as over nine hours of special features. The thorough enthusiast will most likely want to pick up the “Full Disclosure Edition” which contains everything from the 2-disc set, as well as the Hearts of Darkness documentary and a 48-page booklet. Street date is October 19th.

Update: Added cover art and final specs and features. Notice that these Blu-ray editions will reinstate the film’s original theatrical aspect ratio of 2.35:1. On previous home video releases, cinematographer Vittorio Storaro’s decided to open the aspect ratio to 2.00:1.

2-Film Edition Blu-ray Features:
• Apocalypse Now in 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
• Apocalypse Now Redux in 1080p Widescreen (2.35:1)
• DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1
• A Conversation with Martin Sheen” interview by Francis Ford Coppola
• An Interview with John Milius by Francis Ford Coppola
• Complete Francis Ford Coppola interview with Roger Ebert at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival
• Monkey Sampan (lost scene)
• Additional Scenes
• “Destruction of the Kurtz Compound” end credits with audio commentary by Francis Ford Coppola
• “The Hollow Men,” video of Marlon Brando reading T.S. Eliot’s poem
• The Birth of 5.1 Sound
• Ghost Helicopter Flyover sound effects demonstration
• A Million Feet of Film: The Editing of Apocalypse Now
• The Music of Apocalypse Now
• Heard Any Good Movies Lately? The Sound Design of Apocalypse Now
• The Final Mix
• Apocalypse Then and Now
• The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now
• PBR Streetgang
• The Color Palette of Apocalypse Now
• The Synthesizer Soundtrack” article by music synthesizer inventor Bob Moog