Warner Bros. Signs Deal for IMAX Releases

LOS ANGELES: A new agreement will see up to 20 Warner Bros. films released in IMAX format through 2013, including the upcoming Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows parts 1 and 2.

Other Warner Bros. movies that will be released in IMAX include Legends of the Guardian: The Owls of Ga’Hoole, Happy Feet 2 and The Hobbit. Warner Bros. and IMAX also plan to release a further 15 films over the course of 2011, 2012 and 2013. These include Gravity, Fury Road, Batman 3 and Superman.

"Our track record with IMAX has been incredible, and incorporating 3-D into this collaborative effort will serve as the ultimate experience for our audiences," said Dan Fellman, the president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "We are extraordinarily proud of our forthcoming slate and eager to offer these films to audiences in the most premium of movie-going experiences."

"We’re thrilled to join with IMAX in bringing global audiences new and exciting experiences through the 3D IMAX format," commented Veronika Kwan-Rubinek, the president of international distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "We have a tremendously powerful slate of quality tentpole films, and as IMAX theaters continue to expand internationally, more and more audiences will have the opportunity to experience our films using this exciting format."

Richard L. Gelfond, the CEO of IMAX, added, "Warner Bros. is and has been an important strategic partner for IMAX. The success of our partnership to date is a result of our integrated approach to marketing and release strategies, and we believe this formula will lead to more box office success in the future. Our digital theatre system has accelerated the growth of our theatre network and provides us with significant flexibility in the release and programming schedule in our theatres. This important announcement provides increased visibility into our future film slate, enabling existing and potential exhibitors to better know what’s ‘coming soon’ in their IMAX theaters."