SCOOP: SPIDER-MAN 2 to be IMAXed

By: Patrick Sauriol
Date: Tuesday, June 29, 2004
Source: Anonymous x2

Two independent sources have sent us word that, before the end of next month, SPIDER-MAN 2 will be formatted and be playing on IMAX theaters screens. Both sources have told Coming Attractions that Sony Pictures is about to make an announcement about the IMAX presentation of the highly-anticipated sequel as early as later today or tomorrow.

Furthermore, our sources tell us that the SPIDER-MAN 2 IMAX run will follow a release format similar to last summer's IMAX presentation of THE MATRIX RELOADED: three to four weeks after the June 30 premiere of SPIDER-MAN 2, the movie will begin its run on IMAX DMR screens. This would place the IMAX release of the picture on either the 16th or the 23rd of July. One of our informants, working a little more closely in the pipeline of distribution, informed us that the release date of SPIDER-MAN 2 IMAX depends upon how quickly Sony can strike prints of the film and get them shipped to theaters.

This unexpected move may be at the expense of rival studio Warner Bros., which has plans to release an IMAX DMR version of CATWOMAN on July 23. We've been told that already several IMAX equipped theaters, which had earlier committed to show CATWOMAN, are dropping their plans and will instead show SPIDER-MAN 2 that weekend. Such a move will surely lower the grosses for CATWOMAN, which we are told will carry the first trailer for next summer's highly anticipated release of BATMAN BEGINS.

Warners has enjoyed a fruitful relationship with the IMAX Corporation this past year by showing several of the studio's blockbusters, such as the recent HARRY POTTER AND THE PRISONER OF AZKABAN and the aforementioned MATRIX sequels, in the proprietary widescreen format. Will this latest surprise move by Sony Pictures jeopardize future plans between Warners and IMAX?


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