Warner Bros. Pictures Inc. and IMAX Corporation today announced that three-time Academy-Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio will narrate Hubble 3D. The latest IMAX 3D film from the award-winning team behind Space Station 3D and other successful IMAX space films, led by producer/director Toni Myers, is scheduled for release to IMAX theatres beginning March 19, 2010. Hubble 3D will combine awe-inspiring IMAX 3D footage shot in space with breathtaking, never-before-seen 3D flights through Hubble imagery from the Orion Nebula to the far reaches of the cosmos. The film is the fourth IMAX 3D co-production between the two companies.
“I’m thrilled that Leonardo will be guiding our audiences on this incredible journey through the cosmos,” said producer/director Toni Myers. “It’s a tremendous honor to have him as part of the ‘Hubble 3D’ team. His extraordinary gift of connecting with audiences is the perfect fit for the immersive experience of Hubble’s story.”
“Leonardo’s exceptional talent as both an actor and communicator will dovetail nicely with this breathtaking film, and we’re looking forward to having him guide us to the edge of the universe and back,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond.
Dan Fellman, President of Domestic Distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures, said, “Leonardo has earned recognition around the world not only for his achievements in film, but for being one of the preeminent voices of his generation on subjects of genuine scope that touch our lives. He is an ideal addition to the team and will introduce IMAX audiences to the real-life wonder and drama of ‘Hubble 3D.'”
“We are so excited that Leonardo has agreed to narrate this important movie and we would like to officially welcome him to the IMAX family,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “His unique ability to reach movie-goers of all ages in just the right way is ideal for this film, which takes us on a series of exhilarating space walks in IMAX 3D to revitalize the Hubble Space Telescope and then flies us through Hubble’s new breathtaking images of distant galaxies.”
Following its March 19 debut, Hubble 3D will open in additional IMAX locations on April 23rd, timed to the Hubble Space Telescope’s 20th Anniversary.
Through the power of IMAX 3D, the film will enable movie-goers to journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings, and accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. The film will offer an inspiring and unique look into the Hubble Space Telescope’s legacy and highlight its profound impact on the way we view the universe and ourselves.
The IMAX 3D camera flew onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis last May and captured stunning 3D images of the intricate spacewalks required to service the telescope. The footage, shot by the STS-125 astronauts, will be included in the film and will put IMAX audiences right there alongside the spacewalking astronauts. The film will also feature never-before-seen 3D flights through awe-inspiring Hubble imagery, providing a first-person journey to the far reaches of our universe.
Hubble 3D is an IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures production, in cooperation with National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The film reunites the Space Station 3D filmmaking team, led by producer/director Toni Myers. James Neihouse, director of photography, also doubles as the astronaut crew trainer. Judy Carroll is associate producer, and Graeme Ferguson, co-founder of IMAX and pioneer producer of many IMAX space films, is executive producer.
You can watch the trailer here.