Avatar is getting ready to be re-released in theaters this Friday with almost nine minutes of additional footage added in and hopes of bumping its current $2.7 billion worldwide take closer to the $3 billion mark.

There’s no denying that while the James Cameron‘s epic is great on Blu-ray and a good entertainment system, seeing the movie on the biggest and best movie theater screen possible is the way to go. Adding a bunch of new footage will surely draw people out to see what’s new and experience the ride again, and Fox’s chief of domestic distribution Bruce Snyder says “About every 15 minutes you’ll get something new that you haven’t seen before, which is kind of cool. People want to go back to Pandora on the big screen.”

The interesting thing about the theatrical re-release is the announcement that Fox decided to make before the return to cinemas. It’s been reported that the 2-disc special edition DVD and Blu-ray set for release this November will feature AT LEAST 16 minutes of additional footage, successfully doubling the amount promised on the big screen and making it harder to figure out why to bother shelling out another $20 to see it again.

Click on over where you can see a trailer released for the re-release of Avatar once you reach the bottom of this post.

It’s unclear what the strategy here is — maybe they’re just so confident in their movie that they know people are going to see it and buy it whenever they release a new version of it…who knows. There’s already plans for a 3D version of the film to be released for purchase sometime next year as well.

As for what’s new in the theatrical re-release, producer Jon Landau spoke about what you can expect:

Basically, everyone just need to plan ahead and try and pick the best for you. If you liked the 3D and are planning on getting a 3D TV in the future, you may want to wait. If you just want the special features and new footage, maybe wait for November. If you’re just desperate to see Avatar on the big screen again with anything new, your wish shall be granted at the end of the week.

Re-Release Trailer

[Source: THR]