Star
Trek to be Released as IMAX Movie May 8, 2009 12/12/08
Paramount Pictures' Star Trek to be Released as IMAX(R) Movie MAY 8,
2009
J.J. Abrams' Vision of the Greatest Space Adventure of All Time to Run
in Select IMAX Theatres
LOS ANGELES, CA, Dec. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ - Paramount Pictures
and IMAX Corporation (NASDAQ: IMAX; TSX: IMX) today announced that Star
Trek, directed by J.J. Abrams ("Mission: Impossible III",
"Lost" and "Alias"), will be simultaneously released
to both IMAX(R) and conventional theatres worldwide on May 8, 2009. Star
Trek, which chronicles the early days of James T. Kirk and his fellow USS
Enterprise crew members, will be digitally re-mastered into the
unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience(R) with
proprietary IMAX DMR(R) (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Paramount
Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of the film to IMAX theatres
worldwide.
Star Trek is one of the world's most successful science fiction
entertainment series and media franchises. Created by Gene Roddenberry,
the Star Trek phenomenon has lead to six television series, ten feature
films, dozens of computer and video games, hundreds of novels and fan
stories, as well as a themed attraction in Las Vegas. Star Trek has also
inspired a following of millions of "Trekkies" of all ages that
span across the globe.
"We're excited to share the enhanced IMAX version of this film
with the millions of dedicated fans who have been anticipating this
release since production began," said Rob Moore, Vice Chairman,
Paramount Pictures. "The IMAX Experience adds that extra level of
excitement to an already action-packed film, giving moviegoers a premium
'event' at the multiplex."
Added J.J. Abrams, "I'm thrilled that audiences will be able to
experience this new, epic world of Star Trek - with an incredible cast and
mind-blowing visual effects - on what is, obviously, the most remarkable
film format in the world."
"Star Trek combines top Hollywood story-telling talent with space
exploration, and each is very conducive to The IMAX Experience," said
IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler.
"Expanding our relationship with Paramount Pictures to include this
film strengthens our 2009 slate, and with the continuing rollout of
digital IMAX theatre systems, we will be able to offer the fan-base more
locations to experience the epic first journey of the USS Enterprise in
the most immersive way."
"Both Star Trek and IMAX have taken audiences to far away places
they would normally not be able to go, and in this case, it's space - the
final frontier," added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX
Filmed Entertainment. "J.J. Abrams has created a powerful movie that
has fans worldwide feverishly anticipating its release. We are thrilled to
partner with Paramount Pictures to bring J.J.'s exciting vision of this
incredible space adventure to IMAX screens."
From director J.J. Abrams and screenwriters Alex Kurtzman & Roberto
Orci ("Transformers," "MI: III") comes a new vision of
the greatest space adventure of all time, "Star Trek," featuring
a young, new crew venturing boldly where no man has gone before. Star Trek
explores the early Starfleet careers of future Enterprise officers Kirk
(Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Amanda Grayson
(Winona Ryder), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), McCoy (Karl Urban), Sulu (John Cho),
and Chekhov (Anton Yelchin). A Romulan, Nero (Eric Bana), and a much older
Spock (Leonard Nimoy) are influences, as well as Captain Pike (Bruce
Greenwood), the first captain of the USS Enterprise.