Paramount has just announced they will be releasing the first 9 minutes from J.J. Abrams’ Star Trek Into Darkness exclusively in approximately 500 digital IMAX 3D theatres beginning December 14th. There is no specific mention of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, but I have to assume the preview will play in front of those screenings in something of a trade-off considering Warner Bros. placed The Dark Knight Rises prelude in front of Paramount’s Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol last year.
Star Trek Into Darkness is the sequel to Abrams’ 2009 Star Trek and will be hitting theaters on May 17, 2013. Written by Damon Lindelof, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci familiar faces including Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin, John Cho, Simon Pegg and Karl Urban are returning along with newcomers Alice Eve, Peter Weller, Noel Clarke and Benedict Cumberbatch playing the film’s villain.
“Our longtime partners J.J. Abrams, Bryan Burk and the Bad Robot team have really hit it out of the park – the footage is absolutely incredible,” said Greg Foster, Chairman and President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment in today’s press release. “Their use of the IMAX Camera and canvas is sure to impress current and future Star Trek fans alike, and we’re thrilled to once again work with our friends at Paramount Pictures to offer this extended ‘first look’ at this highly anticipated summer blockbuster.”
Star Trek Into Darkness used IMAX cameras to capture several sequences. Exclusively in IMAX theaters, sequences filmed with the extremely high-resolution cameras will expand to fill more of the screen with unprecedented crispness and clarity, putting moviegoers right into the explosive action and vast scope of the film.
