Iron Man 3 Coming To Blu-Ray in December, Wal-Mart Taking Preorders

Wal-Mart is currently taking preorders on Blu-Ray copies of Iron Man 3, which is estimated by Vudu--the digital-delivery service preferred by Wal-Mart as well as many movie studios--to come to video in December. No specific delivery date is available. It's worth noting that the packaging for the pre-order bundle estimates a "Fall 2013" delivery and, as reader "Josh" pointed out, the previous installments of the Iron Man franchise have both been released to video the last week in December. Marvel's The Avengers also came to video on September 25. Our December estimate is based on the fact that after you've entered your preorder code into the Vudu system, your account says that you will have access to Iron Man 3 in December. Retailing for $24.95, dedicated Marvelites can pre-buy a copy of the film and, upon arriving home and plugging a code into their Vudu accounts, check out a pair of featurettes and a pair of previews for upcoming Marvel releases. The two featurettes are both Iron Man-centric; one focuses on the Extremis story (and virus) and its use in the film, while the other is a Lego Marvel Super Heroes featurette focusing on Ol' Shellhead. A small Lego Club flyer is included in the package that features a four-page Lego Iron Man comic. The previews are really more Hulk-ish than Iron Man, but Marvel fans will likely appreciate them anyway. Those who pre-order the Blu-Ray will be able to log in and watch exclusive previews of Hulk and the Agents of S.M.A.S.H. and Iron Man/Hulk: Heroes United, an upcoming direct-to-DVD animated release that pairs the irrepressible duo from Marvel's The Avengers and, if rumors are true, the closing credits sequence to Iron Man 3. Given that many fans have been clamoring for more of the pair on the big screen, that DVD could turn out to be a strong seller if Marvel fans put their money where their mouths are. In addition to the above (and, of course, having Iron Man 3 shipped to you "beginning in Fall 2013" according to the flyer included but really in December, according to both Vudu and Amazon). buyers can get a digital copy of Matt Fraction's Invincible Iron Man #1 free with the purchase, redeemable through Marvel's digital storefront.