Introduction to an Immersive Experience
Sphere and Warner Bros Discovery have presented further details of their collaboration to create an immersive version of the Hollywood Classic, The Wizard of Oz. This adaptation will open on August 28th at the event location in Las Vegas and will last for over a year.
The Creation Process
The creators of The Wizard of Oz adapted the original recording for a 4:3 screen to fill the around 160,000 m² interior of Sphere and remastered original songs to transmit through the 167,000 loudspeakers of the ball. Haptic seats, environmental effects, and custom fragrances are used to deepen the immersive experience. They used the original shot list and production design and have accessed props from Warner Bros and Academy Archives to create a 75-minute experience.
The Role of AI in the Adaptation
The creators used AI to "contract" the shots, said Jen Koester, President and COO of Sphere. The technology was not used to create new scenes or songs, but to pull together shots and create a fluid experience from shot to shot. "Where Uncle Henry, who leans against a wall and cuts it to Dorothy Gale and Toto, we use AI to tie the performances together and to remain true to the integrity of the film," Koester explained.
The Team Behind the Experience
The team behind the experience includes the co-founder of Tribeca Festival, Jane Rosenthal, as the producer. She worked with the specialist for visual effects, Ben Grossmann, Hugo and Oppenheimer editor Jennifer Lame, and Creative Director Zack Winokur.
Ticket Prices and Availability
Ticket prices start at $104 US dollars. Sphere will not report to the box office, and the partners did not say whether sales are separated with Warner Bros Discovery.
Upcoming Events
The Wizard of Oz is the second feature experience at the Sphere, following Darren Aronofsky’s natural documentary film Postcard from Earth. Free Solo co-directors Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin are working on the upcoming documentary from Extreme Sports, From the Edge. Sphere opened in 2023 and also organizes concerts and residences.
