HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX -- the third Harry Potter film to be converted into IMAX's format -- will be simultaneously released to both IMAX and conventional theaters on July 13, 2007. There is also the possibility of converting part of THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX into IMAX 3-D for broader appeal, as was done with SUPERMAN RETURNS.
The film is based on the best-selling J.K. Rowling book and is the fifth installment of the widely successful HARRY POTTER film series. The last installment of the series, HARRY POTTER AND THE GOBLET OF FIRE, which opened on Nov. 18, 2005, shattered numerous IMAX 2-D box office records and grossed more than $20 million in IMAX theaters worldwide.
HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX is Warner Bros. Pictures' 13th title scheduled to be digitally re-mastered into The IMAX Experience with IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. Warner Bros. Pictures will be the exclusive distributor of the film to IMAX theaters worldwide.
"The Harry Potter series has been a huge success in IMAX theaters, and we are delighted to combine this next exciting installment with The IMAX Experience to offer Harry Potter fans another magical adventure for 2007," said Dan Fellman, president of Domestic Distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures. "The IMAX theater network is a proven source of incremental revenue that we believe will grow exponentially as more IMAX theaters continue to open around the world."
"We're delighted to be working with Warner Bros. Pictures on our 2007 film slate this early in the year," said IMAX co-chairmen and co-ceos Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. "The last two Harry Potter films we released to IMAX theaters grossed a combined $34 million, demonstrating the strong worldwide appeal of Harry Potter and The IMAX Experience. This new title gives us a powerful kick-start to next year's film slate."
"We are proud of our partnership with Warner Bros. and producer David Heyman, and we're excited that once again Warner Bros. Pictures will be delivering a film that lends itself perfectly to The IMAX Experience," added Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Ent. "As we explore the possibility of converting some of the picture into IMAX 3-D, we expect to have an even broader audience base for the release of HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX in 2007."
Founded in 1967, IMAX Corp. (www.imax.com) is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies and the newest distribution window for Hollywood films. IMAX delivers some of the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3-D and IMAX DMR technology.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
