Earlier this month, Warner Home Video revealed the details for The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy Extended Edition Blu-ray Edition box set. At that time, no release date was given, only that it’s be out some time in 2011 or 2012, and that the set was now available for pre-order.

Now, WB has announced that this 15-disc Blu-ray set will be released on June 28, 2011.

When this set was originally announced, it was titled The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy Limited Extended Edition Blu-ray Edition, and the box art reflected that name. The newly released box art (see above) shows that the word “limited” has been dropped and “The Motion Picture” added to it. Either way, it’s still a mouthful, but it’s worth it! (in my opinion).

While Peter Jackson‘s The Lord of the Rings movies are already out on Blu-ray, this new box set contains the extended versions of all the films, along with over 26 hours of behind-the-scenes and making-of bonus material, including the Costa Botes documentaries. It also comes with the digital versions of the films.

Bonus Features

Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring

Over 30 minutes of footage incorporated into the theatrical release of the film
Commentary by Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh, and Philippa Boyens
Commentary by the design team
Commentary by the production/post-production team
Commentary by 10 actors, including Elijah Wood and Ian McKellen
Easter egg: MTV Movie Award Spoof (The Council of Elrod)
Costa Botes Documentary: The Fellowship of the Ring: Behind the Scenes

The Appendices, Part 1: From Book to Vision (on DVD)
* Peter Jackson introduction
* J.R.R. Tolkien: Creator of Middle Earth
* From Book to Script
* Visualizing the Story
* Designing and Building Middle Earth
* Middle Earth atlas interactive

The Appendices, Part 2: From Vision to Reality (on DVD)
* Elijah Wood introduction
* Filming The Fellowship of the Ring
* Visual effects
* Post-production: Putting it all together
* Digital Grading
* Sound and music
* The Road Goes Ever On…

Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers

Extended edition of the film, incorporating 43 minutes of footage incorporated into the film
Commentary track by writer-director Peter Jackson and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens
Commentary track by the design team
Commentary track by the production/post-production team
Commentary track by 16 cast members, including Elijah Wood, Sean Astin, Andy Serkis, John Rhys-Davies, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Bernard Hill, and Miranda Otto
Easter Egg: MTV Movie Awards clip (Gollum accepting award)
Costas Botes documentary: The Two Towers–Behind the Scenes

The Appendices, Part 3: The Journey Continues
* Peter Jackson introduction
* J.R.R. Tolkein: Origin of Middle Earth
* From Book to Script: Finding a Story
* Designing and Building Middle-Earth
* Gollum
* Middle-Earth Atlas interactive
* New Zealand as Middle Earth (map with video location)

The Appendices, Part 4: The Battle for Middle Earth
* Elijah Wood introduction
* Filming The Two Towers
* Visual effects
* Editorial: Refining the Story
* Music and Sound
* The Battle for Helm’s Deep is Over

Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Extended edition of the film, with 50 extra minutes incorporated into the film
Commentary track by writer-director Peter Jackson and writers Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens
Commentary track by the design team
Commentary track by the production/post-production team
Costas Botes documentary: The Return of the King: Behind the Scenes

The Appendices, Part 5: The War of the Ring
* Peter Jackson Intro
* J.R.R. Tolkien: The Legacy of Middle-earth
* From Book to Script
* Designing and Building Middle-earth
* Home of the Horse Lords
* Middle-earth Atlas: Tracing the Journeys of the Fellowship: interactive map
* New Zealand as Middle-earth: interactive map with on-location footage

The Appendices, Part 6: The Passing of an Age
* Elijah Wood/Sean Astin/Billy Boyd/Dominic Monaghan intro
* Filming The Return of the King
* Visual Effects
* Post Production: Journey’s End
* The Passing of an Age
* Cameron Duncan