Donner's Superman II being restored for DVD

Last week, Superman Homepage broke the news (via their interview with producer Ilya Salkind) that Richard Donner's long-lost (and never finished) cut of Superman II is being restored by editor (and former Donner assistant) Michael Thau, who did the excellent Superman: The Movie Special Edition restoration five years ago. This has since been confirmed by Donner himself, via interviews with IGN and Dark Horizons, in which he makes clear the project has his blessing and support, although not his active involvement beyond consultation (given how much time has passed since he was unceremoniously replaced by Richard Lester - plus the fact he's currently busy finishing his new film, 16 Blocks).

Meanwhile, it has separately been reported (by The Digital Bits) that "The Donner Cut" is being reconstructed using the original shooting script and Donner's original notes, and will feature at least 50% never-before-seen Donner-directed footage (including the lost/original opening sequence, and scenes with Marlon Brando as Jor-El), resulting in a new cut that is over 70% directed by Donner (in other words as much as possible, with the remainder presumably appropriated from Richard Lester's release version; 25 years later, I'd say turnabout is fair play).

However, the catch for consumers is that it will only be available as part of a 14-disc Superman: Ultimate Collector's Edition due out this November, which will apparently include all things Superman, including Superman Returns, the first four films, and I'm guessing the new Kevin Burns Look Up in the Sky Superman documentary, and maybe even the new Superman: Brainiac Attacks animated film.