Las Vegas’ groundbreaking venue, the Sphere, is gearing up to present its first-ever classic film screening: The Wizard of Oz, beginning August 28. But this isn’t a standard movie showing—the 1939 classic is being completely transformed into a next-generation cinematic experience designed specifically for the Sphere’s massive 160,000-square-foot, wraparound LED screen.
According to Sphere Entertainment, a dedicated team of 2,000 professionals is working behind the scenes to enhance and reimagine the film for this unique environment. The project involves advanced artificial intelligence tools to upscale the resolution of the original footage and extend the visual frame beyond what was originally captured on film.
Through a technique known as “outpainting,” AI fills in unseen elements of the scenes, offering audiences a new way to immerse themselves in the world of Oz. Viewers will witness richer details in characters like Dorothy and expansive visuals showing more of iconic settings such as the Yellow Brick Road and the magical land beyond.
In some cases, this expansion even results in new visual performances from the original cast, crafted using data from the existing footage—allowing audiences to see more of the characters without altering the essence of the performances.
Despite the high-tech enhancements, Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan emphasized that the integrity of the film remains untouched. “Our goal wasn’t to change the film,” he stated, “but to make the audience feel as though they’ve stepped into it—like being on the set when the magic first happened.”
This debut marks a new era of cinematic storytelling, where classic films meet immersive, AI-powered environments—promising a viewing experience like no other.
