A classic movie is back on the big screen in a completely immersive format. The Wizard of Oz is now playing at the Sphere in Las Vegas and producers turned to AI to transform it for the giant dome.
“I can’t believe we are here – and there were certainly some times along the way I didn’t think we were going to get here,” said Jim Dolan CEO of Sphere Entertainment.
The 86-year-old film, originally shown on a 24-foot screen, was expanded to fit the Sphere’s 16K, 160,000-square-foot canvas.
“You will see Judy Garland as if you were back in 1939,” said Dolan.
To make it happen, producers turned to AI.
“We knew it was going to be controversial and honestly, and this is just me speaking personally, that was one of the reasons why I was attracted to it,” said Ben Grossmann, Producer of The Wizard of Oz at Sphere and CEO of Magnopus.
It cost nearly 100 million dollars (double their budget) to bring Dorothy and crew back to life inside the dome-shaped venue. The audio is excellent and tech effects make it feel like you’re inside the tornado and there are lots of surprises including snow, fire, falling apples and more.
“What’s really exciting is this is the first time I think in the history of the venue where we truly have pushed the boundaries of everything that this venue is capable of,” said Jennifer Koester of Sphere Entertainment.
With help from Google Deepmind, AI was trained on the original film to restore details and even create new ones.
“Literally up until 6 months ago, we didn’t know if we had a path towards getting the sphere experience at the level of quality that Sphere audiences expect,” said Grossmann.
Audiences are immersed from the moment they enter the Sphere – Kansas themed at the start, then the Emerald City with the wizard front and center.
As for the show itself, it’s wildly entertaining from start to finish. Look closely and you’ll notice the AI touches, but this isn’t just a reimagining of the original – it’s a completely new way to experience it.
The massive screen, extra detail, and booming audio turn a classic story into a tech-driven spectacle. The tornado pulls you in, and the other effects keep the audience wowed the entire 80-minute run time.
“I think that’s what these tools are enabling is a new wave of creativity, a new wave of expression and a new wave of things that we can give audiences to experience,” concluded Grossmann.
Tickets start at $104, so is it worth it? If you see it as an experience versus just a movie, it’s a fun way to see how technology and AI can breathe new life into a classic.
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