The Shield Getting 4k Remaster

Series creator Shawn Ryan (The Unit, Lie to Me) announced on twitter that Sony and Fox are moving forward on a 4K conversion of The Shield. Ryan, who will oversee the conversion of each episode, says the decision comes after months of discussion and tests, noting that he was “dubious” about the prospect since the “gritty, grainy” look was such an essential component of the series. But Ryan says he was won over by the tests promising that the converted footage looks “spectacular”.

The conversion will also finally allow for Blu-ray and streaming releases of the critically acclaimed drama. There’s still going to be a bit of a wait though. Ryan says they hope to finish the lengthy conversion process by March 2017 — just in time for the 15th anniversary of the pilot.

6. The tests showed that in 4K the gritty look could be maintained while updating it for a 2015 audience. It really looks spectacular.

— Shawn Ryan (@ShawnRyanTV) August 28, 2015