Warner Bros. has extended its relationship with the folks at IMAX, ensuring that the studio’s biggest tentpoles will get large-format exhibition through at least 2020. Under the renewal of their deal, IMAX will be showcasing the previously announced Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and this December’s In the Heart of the Sea, as well as a slew of upcoming movies like Guy Ritchie’s spy thriller The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Ritchie’s currently filming King Arthur movie, David Yates’s 2016 adventure film Tarzan, Andy Serkis’ motion-capture Jungle Book: Origins, the thriller Geostorm, and more.
Notably, today’s agreement confirms that all of Warner Bros.’ DC movies will be released in the IMAX format, including David Ayer’s currently filming supervillain pic Suicide Squad. It’s unclear if Suicide Squad will be shot in IMAX, but Zack Snyder did use IMAX cameras for the first time for portions of Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and that film’s trailer premiere is taking place in IMAX theaters this evening.
Warner Bros. also confirms that the upcoming Harry Potter spinoff Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, written by J.K. Rowling and directed by Yates (who helmed the last four Potter pictures) will be released in IMAX. That’s not a huge surprise given that a number of the Harry Potter movies were released in the IMAX format, but it will be interesting to see if Yates uses IMAX cameras this time around.
And finally, WB’s IMAX deal also encompasses future LEGO movies including The LEGO Movie Sequel and most likely The LEGO Batman Movie.
This is all very exciting news, but I’m personally much more interested in an IMAX release if the film has actual sequences shot using IMAX cameras. The tide could be turning as IMAX recently created its first 2D digital camera, which will be implemented on Captain America: Civil War. Ayer shot Fury on film, so it’d be great to see him go the traditional route and use some good old fashioned IMAX film cameras for Suicide Squad.
Regardless, you can look forward to seeing all of Warner Bros.' big movies in the IMAX format for many more years to come.
