It has been announced that the sci-fi blockbuster "Project Hail Mary" (directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller, set to be released on March 20th), starring Canadian actor Ryan Gosling, will be screened in premium large formats (Dolby Cinema, Dolby Atmos, MX4D, 4DX, ScreenX, ULTRA 4DX) in addition to the already announced IMAX, making it a total of 13 versions. Visuals exclusive to each format have also been released.
This film is an adaptation of the bestselling novel of the same name (Hayakawa Publishing) by popular author Andy Weir, who also wrote the original novel "The Martian," which was adapted into the 2015 film "The Martian." The original novel was published in May 2021 and sold over a million copies in just six months.
The story is set in the future, where an abnormal event occurs in which solar energy is stolen due to an unknown cause. If this continues, the Earth's temperature will drop and humanity will be wiped out. In order to avert this unprecedented crisis, the world's wisdom is gathered. Investigation reveals that this phenomenon is not only affecting the Sun, but also countless stars scattered throughout the universe, and a single unharmed star is discovered 11.9 light-years away.
The only option left for humanity is to head there in a spaceship and solve the mystery that will save the sun and all of humanity. A lowly middle school science teacher, Grace (Gosling), is sent into space for a "Hail Mary" project. Relying on her own scientific knowledge, Grace encounters a small, brave, unknown lifeform, Rocky, who shares the same goal. Though the two differ in language, physique, and common sense, they communicate through science as a shared language and build a bond of trust that transcends species. Together, they risk their lives to embark on a mission to save their homeland.
Distributed by Sony Pictures, the creators of "Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse" (2018) are involved in the production.
This film was "Filmed For IMAX" and shot using IMAX's proprietary, state-of-the-art cameras. It has now been announced that the film will be screened in a total of 13 different formats, including 2D (subtitled, dubbed), IMAX (2D subtitled), Dolby Cinema (2D subtitled), Dolby Atmos (2D subtitled), MX4D (2D subtitled/2D dubbed), 4DX (2D subtitled/2D dubbed), ScreenX (2D subtitled/2D dubbed), and ULTRA 4DX (2D subtitled/2D dubbed). In addition, exclusive visuals for IMAX, Dolby Cinema, 4DX, and ScreenX have also been released.
The poster visuals for each format show the dynamic figure of Grace, a middle school science teacher, attempting an extravehicular activity she has never experienced before in order to find clues to save her hometown. The image of her walking through space with only a lifeline conveys the idea that this is a truly "all or nothing" project, putting her life on the line.
Additionally, footage of directors Lord and Miller's visit to cinemas where they experienced all the premium large format cinemas was also released. IMAX uses an expanded aspect ratio, which is larger than the standard aspect ratio, and is projected onto a screen larger than a regular movie, achieving overwhelming resolution and a high level of immersion. The directors praised IMAX as the best option for experiencing the scale and sound unique to sci-fi blockbusters.
ScreenX offers a 270-degree field of view, projecting images onto the left and right walls in addition to the front, allowing viewers to experience the magnificent space where the story takes place and the emotional encounter between Grace and her partner Rocky on a more dynamic screen.
In 4DX, the seats move back and forth, up and down and left and right in sync with the scenes, and special effects such as wind, water, scents, smoke, and flashes are used. Everyone can experience with all five senses the risky project that Grace takes on with a determination to die. Director Miller seemed pleased with the high level of immersion, saying, "The whole movie is like a giant, emotional roller coaster ride! You can experience the weightlessness of being in space."
The Dolby Cinema screening format combines the cutting-edge imaging technology "Dolby Vision" with the surround sound "Dolby Atmos," allowing viewers to enjoy the colors that both directors have meticulously crafted across the entire screen, and enjoy both the space depictions supervised by NASA and the passionate drama of the deepening bond between the two characters.
