NEWS: Zulu Dawn Returns in 4K to Cinemas This March

By Jon Donnis

Severin Films has announced the worldwide UHD premiere of Zulu Dawn, Douglas Hickox's 1979 war film and the prequel to the 1964 classic Zulu. The film has been given a new 4K digital remaster and will return to cinemas on 13 March 2026.

The cast brings together some of the most recognisable names of its era. Burt Lancaster, known for Gunfight at the O.K. Corral, stars alongside Peter O'Toole of Lawrence of Arabia. They are joined by Simon Ward, who appeared in The Three Musketeers, and Bob Hoskins, remembered for The Long Good Friday.

A special preview screening will take place at Southampton Harbour Lights on 25 February 2026. The event will include an introduction and a question and answer session with Ian Knight, regarded as the UK's leading historian of the Anglo Zulu War. 

The nationwide cinema release follows on 13 March 2026 in a new edition scanned in 4K from the interpositive. A UK physical release is scheduled for 25 May 2026, with further details still to come.

Zulu Dawn is set in January 1879. Officials from the British colony of Natal issued a list of ultimatums to the Zulu Nation. When the Zulu King refused to accept the terms, the Empire declared war. What followed was a series of serious tactical mistakes. A garrison of 1,500 British soldiers faced 25,000 Zulu warriors, in what became the most devastating disaster in British military history.

NEWS: Princess Mononoke Returns to UK and Irish Cinemas in 4K Restoration

By Jon Donnis

Princess Mononoke is set to return to cinemas across the UK and Ireland in a brand-new 4K restoration from 17 October 2025. Presented by Elysian Film Group, the release offers audiences the chance to experience Hayao Miyazaki's acclaimed fantasy epic as part of the celebrations for Studio Ghibli's 40th anniversary.

The restoration has been a decade in the making, overseen by Studio Ghibli's Atsushi Okui, director of digital imaging, who has worked on nearly every major project at the studio since 1993. This careful process ensures the film is shown exactly as Miyazaki and his team intended.

Princess Mononoke remains one of Studio Ghibli's most ambitious achievements, combining hand-drawn animation with a sweeping original story from Miyazaki, produced by Toshio Suzuki and elevated by Joe Hisaishi's celebrated score. First released in 1997, the film quickly became a landmark of Japanese animation, winning global recognition for its artistry and storytelling.

Elysian Film Group has been steadily building on Ghibli's cinematic legacy in the UK, following the success of The Boy and the Heron, which became the studio's highest-grossing release in the region. Their reissues of classics such as My Neighbour Totoro and Spirited Away have also drawn strong audiences, showing the enduring appeal of these films on the big screen. The return of Princess Mononoke continues that tradition, offering fans both old and new the chance to witness Miyazaki's masterpiece in its best form yet.

The 4K restoration of Princess Mononoke opens exclusively in UK and Irish cinemas on 17 October 2025.