Las Vegas Sphere to screen ‘The Wizard of Oz’ in new immersive film experience

By Krysta Escobar

(CNBC) — The Las Vegas Sphere will soon screen 1939′s “The Wizard of Oz” in a new immersive film experience.

The project places viewers inside the world of Oz using the Sphere’s 160,000-square-foot wraparound screen. The film will play in 16K resolution with full spatial audio using 167,000 speakers and haptic seating, according to a June press release.

In a partnership with Google Cloud, engineers used AI “outpainting” to expand the original film frames to fit the immersive space, according to an April press release.

“Our standard on this was not to modify the film at all, but to try and bring you into [it] as if you were in the studio when it was shot,” James Dolan, Sphere Entertainment CEO, told CBS Sunday Morning.

Glenn Derry, MSG Ventures executive vice president and visual effects artist, is in charge of the 4D effects, such as motion, wind, water and scent, to make audiences feel like they are in Oz, CBS reported. Derry told CBS Sunday Morning that his team used technology to bring in fog and wind effects to mimic tornadoes that are seen in the movie.

“The Wizard of Oz” experience opens to the public on Aug. 28.

The Las Vegas Sphere opened in September 2023 and has a capacity of roughly 20,000. About 10,000 of the seats in the arena have haptic technology, according to Sphere Entertainment. The venue has garnered attention since its opening for impressive live concerts and unique visuals.

It’s previously screened films including “Postcard From Earth.”