Forget Emerald City. “The Wizard of Oz” is getting a futuristic reboot in Sin City.
More than 120,000 tickets have been sold for a new immersive version of the classic film inside the Las Vegas Sphere, according to CNBC. By opening night later this month, the venue expects more than 200,000 tickets to be sold.
The original “Wizard of Oz” debuted in 1939. But to bring it onto a 160,000-square-foot LED screen, the creative team had to start from scratch.
In a promotional video, the Sphere gave a behind-the-scenes look at how they’re re-scoring the original soundtrack. They’re using the Sphere’s cutting-edge audio system, which includes speakers in the seats, to create a fully immersive soundscape. Each of the 18,600 seats is its own speaker.
Visuals powered by AI and panoramic scale
It’s not just the music getting a makeover.
The Sphere’s visual effects team revealed on “CBS Sunday Morning” that they used artificial intelligence to enhance and widen the film’s original square frames. That digital process allows the story to stretch across the venue’s enormous wraparound screen without losing its classic charm.
The team’s goal was to stay true to the film’s original aesthetic while upgrading every frame for today’s ultra-high-definition experience.
The Sphere has become one of the world’s most advanced entertainment venues since opening in 2023.
Technological magic behind-the-scenes
The venue’s massive LED screen and immersive audio technology have redefined what it means to watch a film. With a production like “The Wizard of Oz,” those features bring new life to an old favorite.
As Straight Arrow News previously reported, more than 90% of the film was enhanced using AI. According to producer Jane Rosenthal, the team explored several adaptation techniques before deciding that AI offered the most scalable and effective approach for such a massive transformation.
To ensure the reimagining stayed true to the spirit of the original, Google’s AI developers worked hand-in-hand with seasoned filmmakers, helping shape everything from character movement to emotional nuance.
“This was a huge and complex task,” Steven Hickson, director of AI foundation research at Google DeepMind, told The Wall Street Journal. “In some scenes, the Scarecrow’s nose is barely 10 pixels — that creates major technical hurdles.”
Opening night and ticket details
Opening night is set for Aug. 29, with tickets starting at $104. But fans don’t need to rush down the yellow brick road — the Sphere has scheduled 454 screenings through March 2026.
From the sound of it, viewers are already clicking their heels to head back to Oz — Sphere style.
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Author: Alan Judd
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