Spaced, the UK cult hit series, is finally headed to the States this summer - but guess what's here now? A 3-disc Indiana Jones DVD collection and Narnia in Blu-ray! (Plus, we hear there's a bit of a virus going around overseas...) Read on for more news and releases.

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America Gets Spaced!

Region 1 denizens should mark their calendars for July 22 (and set aside about five Alexander Hamiltons) for the North American debut of the UK smash sitcom Spaced. Created by Simon Pegg and Jessica Hynes (nee Stevenson) -- and directed by Edgar Wright -- the surreal pop culture-referencing television show will finally make it to our shores in a 3-disc edition. Bonus material will include a 2007 cast reunion, an Homage-O-Meter that tracks each pop culture reference as it happens, and a commentary by Wright, Pegg, Hynes, and celeb-hipster buddies Quentin Tarantino, Kevin Smith, Bill Hader, Matt Stone, Patton Oswalt, and Diablo Cody.

Meanwhile, McG Gets De-Spaced...

...and if you're a fan of Spaced, Edgar Wright, and Simon Pegg, then perhaps you'll be happy to hear that the planned American remake of the show is now D.O.A., according to industry pundit Nikki Finke. Why is that good, you ask? Mostly because the folks behind the re-do, first announced last October, were plotting the series without any involvement by its creators. Also, it had Charlie's Angels/Terminator 4 director McG at the helm -- leading Wright to blog-dub the project McSpaced. Death to McSpaced!

Criterion Goes Blu-Ray

In more highbrow news, the cineastes at the Criterion Collection announced last week that Criterion will be going Blu-ray this fall! They promise "glorious high-definition picture and sound, all the supplemental content of the DVD releases" -- and best of all -- "they will be priced to match our standard-def editions." Because it's not like standard Criterion releases come on the cheap. The first batch of Blu-ray Criterion releases will include Bottle Rocket, Chungking Express, The Last Emperor, Gimme Shelter, Contempt, and The 400 Blows. Click for full titles.

Also announced this week

-- Early box art reveals that a sneak peek of the teenage vampire romance Twilight will appear on Summit Entertainment's DVD release of Penelope, starring Christina Ricci. A fable about a pig-nosed girl who finds romance and a first look at the star-crossed love between a high schooler and a handsome bloodsucker? Guys, try to contain yourselves. On shelves July 15.

-- Could the National Lampoon brand thrive again, after years of being licensed out to drastically unfunny films like Dorm Daze and Golf Punks? We shall see this summer, when the first National Lampoon movie to be produced by National Lampoon in 19 years comes to DVD: National Lampoon's Bag Boy. (It's about competitive grocery bagging. Which reminds us of a funny episode of 10 Items or Less...wonder when that will hit DVD?) Also on shelves July 15.

--Lastly, the Washington Post calls a quietly brewing problem to attention regarding our troops overseas and home video entertainment. Remember to pick up legit adult videos when sending your care packages!

Click for this week's new releases!