In anticipation of the December 15th release of Rian Johnson's Star Wars: The Last Jedi, IMAX Corporation and The Walt Disney Studios have revealed that key sequences of the eighth installment of the Skywalker Saga were captured with the titular high-resolution cameras. That's grand news for cinephiles, and was surely a fun bit of filmmaking for Johnson himself, but that alone is not the biggest news of Disney's day.

Via a press release, the two entities also announced an extension to their "multi-faceted agreement with a new multi-picture deal — beginning this year and extending through 2019 — that includes the much-anticipated live-action and animated tentpole releases from Disney, Walt Disney Animation Studios, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm.

star-wars-the-last-jedi-imax
Image via Lucasfilm

Highlights of the agreement include IMAX's involvement in the release of Lucasfilm's untitled Indiana Jones film, untitled Han Solo Star Wars anthology film, Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Star Wars: Episode IX; Marvel's Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War and the untitled Avengers sequel (both shot entirely on IMAX); Disney's Beauty and the Beast, A Wrinkle in Time and Mulan; Pixar's The Incredibles 2 and Toy Story 4 and Walt Disney Animation Studios' Wreck-It Ralph sequel.

Johnson follows up on J.J. Abrams' use of IMAX cameras in Star Wars: The Force Awakens by capturing "key sequences of Star Wars: The Last Jedi using IMAX's extremely high-resolution cameras, delivering IMAX audiences greater scope and increased image quality in IMAX's exclusive aspect ratio for a uniquely immersive experience."

Recent IMAX / Disney efforts have done quite well, occupying four of the top ten IMAX spots at the global box office, including Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Captain America: Civil War, Doctor Strange and The Jungle Book.

"The IMAX release of each film 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."

What say you, fans? Are you prepared to shell out a few more Galactic credits in exchange for viewing the Star Wars universe (and more) in the way the filmmakers intended? Let us know in the comments below!

star-wars-the-last-jedi-trailer