'Avatar: Special Edition' 3D coming to theaters

7:37 AM PDT 10/14/2010 by Carl DiOrio

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Re-release due Aug. 27 with additional eight minutes

Once more, with ... eight additional minutes.

An even longer version of James Cameron's 3D epic adventure "Avatar" will return to theaters worldwide on Aug. 27. Fox expects to re-release a 170-minute version of the winter blockbuster in about 400 theaters, featuring all 3D venues and dozens of high-grossing Imax auditoriums.

An "Avatar" special-edition Blu-ray Disc release is anticipated in November, but this is no mere ploy to hype that. Studio execs figure the theatrical reemergence will add at least tens of millions of dollars to the picture's record domestic and international cumes.

"Avatar" has rung up $2.73 billion in global coin, $749.6 million of its grosses coming in the U.S. and Canada.

"Audiences repeatedly told me they wanted more of Pandora, and wished they could have stayed there longer," Cameron said. "So we're making that possible."

Cameron said the eight minutes of new scenes will feature "new creatures and action scenes."

Returning to theaters in late August, the film will have come full circle: Cameron first teased moviegoers with a preview of 15 minutes from the film that was unveiled in moviehouses last Aug. 21.

"Whether you already love the movie, or you've never seen it, with this special edition, you'll be seeing it like never before," Cameron said.