Hot on the heels of the record-setting THE POLAR EXPRESS: AN IMAX 3D EXPERIENCE, IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures will next bring Tim Burtons CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY to IMAX theaters, day-and-date with conventional theaters on July 15, 2005. The event marks the seventh IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) collaboration between IMAX and Warner Bros.
Burton brings his vividly imaginative style to the Roald Dahl classic about eccentric chocolatier Willy Wonka (Johnny Depp) and Charlie (Freddie Highmore), a good-hearted boy from a poor family who lives in the shadow of Wonka's extraordinary factory. Long isolated from his own family, Wonka launches a worldwide contest to select an heir to his candy empire. Five lucky children, including Charlie, draw golden tickets from Wonka chocolate bars and win a guided tour of the legendary candy-making facility that no outsider has seen in 15 years. Dazzled by one amazing sight after another, Charlie is drawn into Wonka's fantastic world. The screenplay is by John August.
"We have worked with IMAX on six projects in the past two years, and the box office performance and response from moviegoers has been consistently outstanding for each release," said Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "With this track record of success, we plan to continue releasing films in IMAX's format day-and-date to capitalize on a new release window and offer audiences a uniquely immersive way to experience our blockbuster pictures
"Warner Bros. Pictures was one of the first studios to realize the potential of IMAX DMR and we're thrilled to be working with them once again on such a stellar motion picture," added IMAX co-chairmen and co-ceos Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "Millions of moviegoers around the world have enjoyed Warner Bros. Pictures' releases digitally re-mastered into The IMAX Experience, and CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY, much like THE POLAR EXPRESS, is exactly the type of family event movie that has proved to be so popular in IMAX's format. We believe this spectacular film will be a terrific summer attraction and a box office draw for the IMAX theater network."
"CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY is a magical story based on a renowned piece of literature from an imaginative filmmaker; it's an ideal IMAX release that will appeal to the diverse venues within the IMAX theater network, as well as moviegoers of all ages," remarked Greg Foster, IMAX's chairman and president of Filmed Entertainment. "The film will be a key title on our 2005 commercial release slate and we're excited to bring it to IMAX theaters."
IMAX and Twentieth Century Fox previously announced that Blue Skys CG-animated ROBOTS will mark the first 2005 IMAX DMR release on March 11.
Founded in 1967, IMAX Corp. (www.imax.com) is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies. IMAX's businesses include the creation and delivery of some of the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX and IMAX 3D technology, and the development of the highest quality digital production and presentation.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
