LOS ANGELES, Sept. 15, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (Nasdaq:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) announced today that Universal Pictures' Fast Five will be released to digital IMAX® theatres simultaneously with the action-thriller's wide release on June 10, 2011. Vin Diesel and Paul Walker lead a reunion of all-stars from every chapter of the Fast and Furious franchise, along with some exciting new cast including Dwayne Johnson, in the film directed by Justin Lin.
Universal's partnership with IMAX on Fast Five marks the studio's return to the IMAX fold. The Academy Award®-winning Apollo 13, in 2002 was the first Universal film to utilize the pioneering IMAX DMR® technology.
"Fast Five is a perfect film for IMAX," said Universal Pictures Chairman Adam Fogelson. "The film's incredible action sequences combined with IMAX's unmatched quality that allows the action to jump off the screen will provide filmgoers with an optimal theatrical experience."
"Universal Pictures partnered with us for our very first DMR release and we're excited to work with them again, this time to bring one of the studio's most successful franchises to digital IMAX theatres," said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. "The film is a great addition to our expanding slate of movies for 2011, and by the time it opens, we'll be able to reach even more fans of the franchise thanks to our growing network."
"We are thrilled to partner with Adam Fogelson, Donna Langley and their team at Universal, and look forward to fueling the buzz as we lead up to the release," said Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. "The IMAX Experience is the just the thing to enhance the thrill ride that will be Fast Five. With this announcement, we are now in business with every Hollywood studio, which gives our fans full access to the best movies in the world."
About Fast Five
In Fast Five, former cop Brian O'Conner (Paul Walker) partners with ex-con Dom Toretto (Vin Diesel) on the opposite side of the law. Dwayne Johnson joins returning favorites Jordana Brewster, Chris "Ludacris" Bridges, Tyrese Gibson, Sung Kang, Gal Gadot, Matt Schulze, Tego Calderon and Don Omar for this ultimate high-stakes race.
Since Brian and Mia Toretto (Brewster) broke Dom out of custody, they've blown across many borders to elude authorities. Now backed into a corner in Rio de Janeiro, they must pull one last job in order to gain their freedom. As they assemble their elite team of top racers, the unlikely allies know their only shot of getting out for good means confronting the corrupt businessman who wants them dead. But he's not the only one on their tail.
Hard-nosed federal agent Luke Hobbs (Johnson) never misses his target. When he is assigned to track down Dom and Brian, he and his strike team launch an all-out assault to capture them. But as his men tear through Brazil, Hobbs learns he can't separate the good guys from the bad. Now, he must rely on his instincts to corner his prey...before someone else runs them down first.
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment technology companies, specializing in immersive motion picture technologies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX 3D, and IMAX DMR® technology. IMAX DMR is the Company's groundbreaking digital re-mastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of June 30, 2010, there were 447 IMAX theatres (325 commercial, 122 institutional) operating in 47 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® 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 ).
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This press release contains forward-looking statements that are based on 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 opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by the Company, the performance of IMAX DMR films, conditions in the in-home and out-of home entertainment industries, the signing of theatre system agreements, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry, the failure to convert theatre system backlog into revenue, investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions, foreign currency fluctuations and the Company's prior restatements and the related litigation and ongoing inquiries by the SEC and the OSC. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
CONTACT: IMAX Corporation, New York Media: Sarah Gormley 212-821-0155 sgormley@imax.com Investors: Heather Anthony 212-821-0121 hanthony@imax.com IMAX Corporation, Santa Monica Entertainment Media: Rebecca Klein 310-255-5656 rklein@imax.com Principal Communications Group, Los Angeles Entertainment Media: Melissa Zukerman melissa@pcommgroup.com Paul Pflug paul@pcommgroup.com 323-658-1555 Sloane & Company, New York Business Media: Whit Clay 212-446-1864 wclay@sloanepr.com