Star Trek 2 Will Release In IMAX 3D
Anyone looking forward to J.J. Abrams’ next Star Trek flick take heed: Paramount has announced that Star Trek 2 (or whatever they end up calling it) will be getting a 3D IMAX release on May 17, 2013. For those keeping track, that’s the same day as its regular release, so if you’ve got an IMAX theater near you you’ll have the option of experiencing it in a format that will barrage you with 3D lens flares the size of office buildings.
I kid, of course, and while I could care less about the 3D part of the equation, the IMAX element is exciting. Regardless of your feelings on Abrams’ Trek movies, there’s no question that they’re visually spectacular, and the extra oomph added by having certain action scenes expand to fill the entire IMAX screen will be something to see. The only film I’ve seen recently on IMAX was The Dark Knight, and when the film switched over to IMAX mode, it would literally take your breath away. Hopefully Trek 2 will manage to serve up a storyline that’s worthy of the visuals (and won’t involve friggin’ Khan).
Abrams said he was eager to shoot Trek 2 in IMAX after seeing how impressively Brad Bird’s Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol made use of the technology. In a press release, Abrams said:
“We were so thrilled with the creative results of shooting IMAX for Mission: Impossible that we jumped at the chance to use the format for Star Trek. All expectations were exceeded — the action and resolution is insane at this scale. We cannot wait for audiences to see the crew of the Enterprise in a way they never have before.
Of course, even the biggest screen in the world won’t be able to overcome a shoddy script, so hopefully Abrams and screenwriters Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci have learned from the first film and tried to improve on it. The reboot has already alienated many classic Trek fans, but if the next film can dial down the cornball physical comedy, fill in the plot holes, and add a much-needed dose of humanity, it might — might — just lure back some of the Trekkers who got burned the first time.
You can read the full press release below.
DIRECTOR J.J. ABRAMS’ STAR TREK SEQUEL TO LAUNCH IN IMAX® 3D AND FEATURE KEY SEQUENCES FILMED WITH IMAX® CAMERAS
The Paramount Pictures and Bad Robot Production Will Be Released Worldwide in IMAX® Theatres on May 17, 2013Los Angeles, CA – Jun. 13, 2012 – IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX; TSX:IMX) and Paramount Pictures Corporation, a unit of Viacom Inc., today announced that the sequel to J.J. Abrams’ 2009 blockbuster Star Trek, will be released in the immersive IMAX® 3D format on May 17, 2013. The film represents the second feature in the ground-breaking franchise to be released in IMAX following Star Trek, which grossed more than $375 million at the worldwide box office.
Following on the heels of Paramount Pictures’ and Bad Robot’s 2011 hit, Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol, the filmmakers have once again taken full advantage of the IMAX® camera as well as the clarity and scope that The IMAX Experience® provides in order to transport fans into this 23rd century world. Several key sections of the film that feature big action set pieces have been captured with IMAX cameras, which has become an integral tool for visionary filmmakers to tell their amazing stories.
Exclusively in IMAX, sequences shot with the extremely high-resolution cameras will expand to fill the entire screen and further immerse the audience in the vast dimension and adventure of this highly-anticipated follow-up. Directed by J.J. Abrams and written by Damon Lindelof (Prometheus), Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman (Transformers, Mission: Impossible III, Star Trek) the sequel follows another chapter of the USS Enterprise crew’s exploration into the unknown. Returning to their posts on the Enterprise are Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Karl Urban, Zoe Saldana, Simon Pegg, John Cho, Anton Yelchin, and Bruce Greenwood. They are joined by new cast members Peter Weller and Alice Eve.
“We were so thrilled with the creative results of shooting IMAX for Mission: Impossible that we jumped at the chance to use the format for Star Trek. All expectations were exceeded — the action and resolution is insane at this scale. We cannot wait for audiences to see the crew of the Enterprise in a way they never have before,” said J.J. Abrams.
“J.J. and the filmmaking team behind the Star Trek franchise are once again working to give audiences one of the best film going experiences available today,” said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman of Paramount Pictures. “Following the great success of the first film in the newly revived franchise, the sequel to Star Trek will no doubt be among the top choices for moviegoers next summer.”
“We are extremely proud to be continuing our successful partnership with Paramount Pictures, J.J., Bryan Burk, Bad Robot and the entire Star Trek team through this iconic franchise that has the perfect DNA for IMAX fans,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment.
The IMAX release of the Star Trek sequel will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
