Universal Shifts Release Date and Schedules Early IMAX Release for Joseph Kosinski’s OBLIVION


We have been keeping you up-to-date on all the fantastic casting for director Joseph Kosinski‘s (TRON: Legacy) Oblivion, the director’s sophomore trip to the big screen. The cast includes Tom Cruise in the lead role, with a supporting cast including the likes of Morgan Freeman, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Olga Kurylenko, Andrea Riseboroug and Melissa Leo.

Now, Universal Pictures has announced the the official release date for the film is being shifted from April 26, 2013 to April 19, 2013, and the film will be getting an early reveal in IMAX on April 12, 2013. Check out the press release below for all the details.

Press Release:

Universal Pictures’ Oblivion to be Released One Week Early, Exclusively in IMAX®, on April 12, 2013

Action-Adventure to Feature Expanded Aspect Ratio,
Optimizing IMAX Canvas

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2012  — IMAX Corporation and Universal Pictures announced today that Oblivion will be released exclusively in IMAX on April 12, 2013, one week ahead of its wide release on April 19, 2013. The action-adventure starring Tom Cruise marks director Joseph Kosinski’s second IMAX release following 2010’s TRON: Legacy.

Exclusively in IMAX, Oblivion will feature a larger aspect ratio, in key sequences, compared to the traditional release. This aspect ratio, which is optimized to take advantage of the IMAX screen, will allow audiences to see more of the image and result in a full panorama of the action – further immersing them into the vast scale and scope of the film.

“IMAX has been a wonderful partner of Universal’s, and we’re excited to join them once again for the release of Oblivion,” said Nikki Rocco, President of Distribution, Universal Pictures. “Experiencing the film in IMAX will allow audiences to be captivated by the stunning, action-filled sequences that were filmed in digital 4K.”

“IMAX differentiation has elicited strong reactions from moviegoers and has positively impacted box-office results,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “With the one-two punch of an early IMAX release window and the film’s expanded aspect ratio, we believe Oblivion is the perfect kick-off to our 2013 summer slate. We’re ecstatic about continuing our longstanding relationship with Tom Cruise, director Joseph Kosinski and the Universal team to bring this highly anticipated action-adventure to IMAX audiences around the world.”

About Oblivion
Tom Cruise stars in Oblivion, an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the director of TRON: Legacy and the producer of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man’s confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind.

Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete.

Living in and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

Oblivion was shot in stunning digital 4K resolution on location across the United States and Iceland.

About Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures is a division of Universal Studios (www.universalstudios.com).  Universal Studios is part of NBCUniversal. NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production and marketing of entertainment, news and information to a global audience. NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group and world-renowned theme parks. Comcast Corporation owns a controlling 51% interest in NBCUniversal, with GE holding a 49% stake.

About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world’s leading entertainment and technology companies, specializing in the creation and delivery of premium, awe-inspiring entertainment experiences. With a growing suite of cutting-edge motion picture and sound technologies, and a globally recognized entertainment brand, IMAX is singularly situated at the convergence of the entertainment industry, innovation and the digital media world. The industry’s top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and as such, the IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe. The Company’s new digital projection and sound systems – combined with a growing blockbuster film slate – are fueling the rapid expansion of the IMAX network in established markets such as North America, Western Europe, and Japan, as well as emerging markets such as China and Russia. IMAX deliver the world’s best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, and IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-Mastering) technologies. IMAX DMR enables virtually any motion picture to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience®.

IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo, Shanghai and Beijing. As of June 30, 2012, there were 663 IMAX theatres (529 commercial multiplex, 20 commercial destination and 114 institutional) in 52 countries.

IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience®, The IMAX Experience® and IMAX Is Believing™ are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).

This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on IMAX management’s assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could affect these statements include, but are not limited to, general economic, market or business conditions, including the length and severity of the current economic downturn, the performance of IMAX DMR films, the opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by IMAX, competitive actions by other companies, conditions in the in-home and out-of home entertainment industries, the signing of theatre system agreements, changes in law or regulations, conditions, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry, the failure to respond to changes and advancements in digital technology, the failure to convert theatre system backlog into revenue, new business initiatives, investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions and any future international expansion, the inability to protect IMAX’s intellectual property foreign currency fluctuations and IMAX’s prior restatements and the related litigation.  These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in IMAX’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Synopsis:

Tom Cruise stars in Oblivion, an original and groundbreaking cinematic event from the director of TRON: Legacy and the producer of Rise of the Planet of the Apes. On a spectacular future Earth that has evolved beyond recognition, one man’s confrontation with the past will lead him on a journey of redemption and discovery as he battles to save mankind.

Jack Harper (Cruise) is one of the last few drone repairmen stationed on Earth. Part of a massive operation to extract vital resources after decades of war with a terrifying threat known as the Scavs, Jack’s mission is nearly complete. Living and patrolling the breathtaking skies from thousands of feet above, his soaring existence is brought crashing down when he rescues a beautiful stranger from a downed spacecraft. Her arrival triggers a chain of events that forces him to question everything he knows and puts the fate of humanity in his hands.

Oblivion is slated to hit theaters on April 26, 2013.


Jason Moore
Written by Jason Moore

is a member of the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films and the Founder/Editor In Chief of SciFi Mafia®