‘The Big Short’ Comes to Blu-Ray and DVD on March 15

Ryan Gosling in a still from the Paramount Pictures release "The Big Short" (Photo by Paramount Pictures).

LOS ANGELES – "One of the most absorbing and entertaining films of the year" (Mara Reinstein, Us Weekly), director Adam McKay's "witty, smart, sharp and funny" (Scott Mantz, "Access Hollywood") masterpiece “The Big Short” arrives on Blu-ray Combo Pack, DVD and On Demand March 15 from Paramount Home Media Distribution.

Nominated for five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actor (Christian Bale), Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Editing, “The Big Short” also was named one of the top 10 films of the year by The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly, the American Film Institute and many more.

Based on the best-selling book by Michael Lewis, “The Big Short” details the true story of four outsiders who risked everything to take on the big banks during the greatest financial fraud in U.S. history. Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling and Brad Pitt deliver career-best performances in "the most wildly entertaining must-see movie of the year" (Toni Gonzales, Fox-TV).

“The Big Short” Blu-ray Combo Pack with Digital HD is packed with over an hour of bonus content. Go behind the scenes with Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell and Christian Bale as they talk about their characters and the real people in this unbelievable true story, then discover the facts behind the gripping events as author Michael Lewis and the filmmakers discuss how the most incredible heist of the century was pulled off. Plus, catch five deleted scenes that were not shown in theaters and hear director Adam McKay reveal the challenges he faced in bringing the book to the screen.

'Star Trek Beyond' Trailer is Released

Chris Pine returns as Capt. Kirk in the Paramount's "Star Trek Beyond," directed by Justin Lin, set for release in July 2016 (Photo by Paramount Pictures).

LOS ANGELES - The much awaited trailer for Paramount's "Star Trek Beyond" has been released, featuring a lot of action, weird aliens and even a soundtrack featuring the Beastie Boys' 1990s rocker, "Sabotage."

Although many Trekkers were disappointed in 2013's "Star Trek Into Darkness," many may well have reason to rejoice with Justin Lin, of "The Fast and The Furious" fame directing from a new team of writers, Simon Pegg and Doug Jung.

The new trailer shows Capt. Kirk (Chris Pine) speeding down an alien landscape in a motorcycle, while strange aliens attack the Enterprise while "Sabotage" plays, giving fans hope for a return to J.J. Abrams original action-packed "Star Trek" reboot.

The film stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Carl Urban, Simon Pegg, Idris Elba, Sofia Boutella, Anton Yelchin and John Cho. It is produced by J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and Roberto Orci. It is scheduled for release on July 22, 2016.

Here is the trailer:

Paramount to Release First Two Films on Digital Platforms.

"Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse," above, will be released on digital platforms for sale and rental beginning Dec. 8 as part of a deal between Paramount Pictures and select theatrical exhibitors (Photo by Paramount Pictures).

LOS ANGELES - Paramount Pictures announced today the home entertainment release dates of the first two films in the studio's groundbreaking digital revenue-sharing initiative with theatrical exhibitors. "Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse" and "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension" will debut on digital platforms for sale and rental beginning December 8 and December 15, respectively.

Under the revenue-sharing agreement with select theatrical exhibitors, the films were eligible to be released on home entertainment platforms 17 days after they dipped below 300 domestic theaters, giving consumers unprecedented early access to enjoy the movies at home following their theatrical runs. "Paranormal Activity: The Ghost Dimension" was released in theaters on October 23rd and "Scouts Guide to the Zombie Apocalypse" was released on October 30.

"This innovative agreement with exhibitors enables us to make these two films available to home viewers much earlier than usual, following their natural lifecycle in theaters," said Megan Colligan, President of Worldwide Distribution and Marketing for Paramount Pictures. "This flexible distribution model allows us to maximize the revenue potential of these films, satisfy consumer demand through legitimate digital access, while respecting and preserving an exclusive theatrical window."

Exhibitors participating in the initiative—including AMC Theatres, Cineplex Entertainment, National Amusements, Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, Southern Theatres and Landmark Cinemas—will receive a percentage of any of the studio's digital revenue for the period of digital availability through 90 days from the initial U.S. theatrical release, with each exhibitor's share proportional to its theatrical gross market share.

Paramount and Hasbro Moving Forward with New Transformers and G.I. Joe Films

An image from 2014's "Transformers: Age of Extinction" from Paramount Pictures (Photo by Industrial Light & Magic, Paramount Pictures and Hasbro).

LOS ANGELES - Paramount and the toymaker Hasbro have chosen Akiva Goldsman to head a writers room for the G.I. Joe franchise, the Transformers franchise and the Hasbro property "Micronauts" which is a series of interchangeable space-related toys. The move is part of its effort to move forward with plans for new movies of those franchises.

Goldsman will also supervise the fifth “Transformers” movie. Paramount is now negotiating with writers room members Art Marcum and Matt Holloway (“Iron Man”) along with Ken Nolan (“Black Hawk Down”) to write the script.

"G.I. Joe" which arose out of the famed Hasbro toy line, has spawned “G.I. Joe: Rise of the Cobra” which earned $678 million in 2009 and as well as that same year's “G.I. Joe: Retaliation.” which took in $375 million.

The studio says that the writers' room was developed as a way of creating new ideas for the franchises.

“Transformers,” also based on the toy line of the same name, premiered in 2007, and was then followed by 2009's “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen," 2011's “Transformers: Dark of the Moon” and by “Transformers: Age of Extinction” in 2014.