Silver Spring, MD — Featuring all 16 episodes and extensive bonus features of the award-winning, original U.K. police drama in a value-priced collection, Life on Mars: The Complete UK Collection, arrives on DVD from Acorn Media on July 6, 2010. In reimagining the detective genre, this U.K. series won sky-high viewer-ratings, unqualified critical praise, and several top awards, including two International Emmys® for best drama series. The action-packed and innovative drama aired on BBC America and PBS in the U.S; inspired a U.K. sequel (Ashes to Ashes); and a U.S. version that aired on ABC in 2008–2009, which featured a very different ending. The flawless cast led by John Simm (State of Play, Doctor Who) and Philip Glenister (Cranford), fun ’70s references, and first-rate writing all build to a satisfying, tension-filled finale. The 8-disc set includes a plethora of bonus features, including audio commentaries, two documentaries, three featurettes, outtakes, and more ($79.99; www.AcornOnline.com).

Hot on a killer’s trail in modern-day Manchester, Sam Tyler (John Simm) gets struck by a passing car and wakes up in 1973. Is he mad, in a coma, or back in time? Whatever the case, he might as well have landed on another planet. The high-tech tools and respect for proper procedure have vanished. Instead, he finds himself working on a homicide squad where hard drinking replaces hard thinking; forensics takes weeks to analyze; and his boss, DCI Gene Hunt (Philip Glenister), has no qualms about roughing up suspects—or Sam himself. Still, Tyler has real-world crimes to solve, even as romance blossoms with policewoman Annie (Liz White, The Fixer), mysterious voices from his former life keep calling him home. Trapped in the past, he must decide where his future lies—and how to get there.

The original U.K. series aired on BBC One and BBC America for two series (2006-2007) and is currently airing on PBS stations. ABC remade it for the 2008-2009 season starring Jason O’Mara and Harvey Keitel.

Bonus Features:

• Take a Look at the Lawman documentary (64 min.)
• The Return of Life on Mars documentary (45 min.)
• The End of Life on Mars featurette (28 min.)
• Series 2 behind-the-scenes footage and set tour (48 min.)
• The Music of Life on Mars featurette (14 min.)
• Get Sykes production design featurette (8 min.)
• Outtakes reel (6 min.)
• Audio commentaries for all Series 1 episodes
• Interview clip with director Bharat Nalluri (3 min.)

Headquartered in suburban Washington, D.C., Acorn Media distributes distinctive home video releases to the North American market with a special focus on the best of British television. Acorn’s DVD sets are available from select retailers, catalog companies, and direct from Acorn Media at (888) 870-8047 or www.acornonline.com.