Prepare for the Return of Awesomeness When This Animated Family Comedy Releases in EMEA in Digital IMAX Theatres
LOS ANGELES, May 24, 2011 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX) (TSX:IMX) and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq:DWA) announced today that the second installment of the animated family adventure Kung Fu Panda 2 will be released in the immersive IMAX® 3D format beginning Wednesday, May 25. The film will release on 47 digital IMAX® screens across EMEA, simultaneous with each country's release date.
Kung Fu Panda 2: An IMAX 3D Experiencehas been digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology for presentation in IMAX 3D. The crystal-clear images, coupled with IMAX's customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio, create a unique immersive environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
About Kung Fu Panda 2:
From DreamWorks Animation—the studio that brought you "How to Train Your Dragon," "Shrek," and the Academy Award®- and Golden Globe®-nominated "Kung Fu Panda"—comes the latest adventures of one of the most unlikely heroes ever to transition from noodle shop employee to kung fu master.
In "Kung Fu Panda 2" Po (JACK BLACK) is now living his dream as The Dragon Warrior, protecting the Valley of Peace alongside his friends and fellow kung fu masters, The Furious Five: Tigress (ANGELINA JOLIE); Monkey (JACKIE CHAN); Mantis (SETH ROGEN); Viper (LUCY LIU); and Crane (DAVID CROSS). Also returning is DUSTIN HOFFMAN as the kung fu guru and Po's mentor, Master Shifu, and JAMES HONG as Mr. Ping, Po's father and owner of the most popular noodle shop in the village.
Po's new life of awesomeness is threatened by the emergence of a formidable villain, Lord Shen (GARY OLDMAN), who plans to use a secret, unstoppable weapon to conquer China and destroy kung fu. Po must look to his past and uncover the secrets of his mysterious origins—only then will he be able to unlock the strength he needs to succeed.
Additional new CAST members include MICHELLE YEOH as the Soothsayer in service to Lord Shen, whose visions of the future play a key role in the destiny to come; DANNY MCBRIDE as Shen's minion, the Wolf Boss; and DENNIS HAYSBERT as Master Storming Ox. The cast also features action superstar JEAN-CLAUDE VAN DAMME as Master Croc and VICTOR GARBER as Master Thundering Rhino.
The film is directed by JENNIFER YUH NELSON. It is produced by MELISSA COBB. The co-producers are JONATHAN AIBEL, GLENN BERGER and SUZANNE BUIRGY. It is written by JONATHAN AIBEL & GLENN BERGER. The music is by HANS ZIMMER and JOHN POWELL.
This film has been rated PG for sequences of martial arts action and mild violence.
Kung Fu Panda 2:An IMAX 3D Experience is scheduled to play day-and-date at the following IMAX theatres beginning May 25:
EMEA
Austria
Graz – Cineplexx Graz IMAX*
Hohenems– Cineplexx IMAX Hohenems*
Vienna–Apollo Das Kino Vienna IMAX*
Croatia
Zagreb – CineStar Arena IMAX Zagreb*
France
Lyon– Pathe Carre de Soie*
Paris– Pathe Quai d'Ivry*
Paris– Gaumont Disney Village*
Rouen– Gaumont Rouen Grand Quevilly*
Toulouse– Gaumont Toulouse Labege*
Germany
Bremen– CinemaxX Bremen*
Hungary
Budapest– Cinema City Arena IMAX Hungary*
Italy
Milan– UCI IMAX Pioltello Milano*
Kazakhstan
Astana – Kino Park Keruen IMAX
Kuwait
Kuwait– Cinescape 360 IMAX*
Netherlands
Amsterdam– Pathe Arena Amsterdam IMAX*
Eindhoven– Pathe Eindhoven IMAX*
Rotterdam– Pathe Schouwburgplein Rotterdam IMAX*
Qatar
Doha– Villagio Shopping Mall IMAX*
Romania
Bucharest– Cinema City IMAX Bucharest*
Russia
Krasnodar – SBS/Monitor Megamall IMAX
Moscow – Coca-Cola IMAX Kinostar De Lux Khimki
Moscow – Coca-Cola IMAX KinoStar De Lux Teply Stan
Moscow – Coca-Cola IMAX Kinostar NY NY, Mega Belaya Dacha
Moscow – Karo October Cinema IMAX
Moscow – BFC Kinosfera IMAX
Novosibirsk – Cinema Park Royal Park IMAX
Perm – Panorama Kristall IMAX
Saratov – Cinema Park Triumph Mall IMAX
St. Petersburg – Coca-Cola IMAX Kinostar City IMAX
St. Petersburg– IMAX Formula Kino Galeria
St. Petersburg– Karo IMAX Baikonurskiy
Tumen – Cinema Park IMAX Tumen
Ufa– Cinema Park Iskra IMAX Theatre
Voronezh– Cinema Park The Galereya Chizhova IMAX
Yekaterinburg – Cinema Park Star Light IMAX
Spain
Madrid – Cinesa IMAX Parquesur Madrid*
Mallorca – Cinesa IMAX Festival Park Mallorca*
United Kingdom
Cardiff – Odeon Cardiff Bay IMAX*
Gateshead – Odeon Metrocentre IMAX*
Greenwich – Odeon Greenwich IMAX*
Kingston Upon Thames – Odeon Kingston IMAX*
Liverpool– Odeon Liverpool ONE IMAX*
Norwich– Odeon Norwich IMAX*
Renfrew – Odeon Braehead IMAX*
Southampton – Odeon Southampton IMAX*
Uxbridge – Odeon Uxbridge IMAX*
Wimbledon– Odeon Wimbledon IMAX*
Please check local listings or IMAX.com for final theatre listings, launch dates and showtimes.
**denotes earlier launch *denotes later launch
About IMAX Corporation:
IMAX Corporation is one of the world's leading entertainment and technology companies, specializing in the creation and delivery of premium, awe-inspiring entertainment experiences. With a growing suite of cutting-edge motion picture and sound technologies, and a globally recognized entertainment brand, IMAX is singularly situated at the convergence of the entertainment industry, innovation and the digital media world. The industry's top filmmakers and studios are utilizing IMAX theatres to connect with audiences in extraordinary ways, and as such, the IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event films around the globe. The Company's new digital projection and sound systems - combined with a growing blockbuster film slate - are fueling the rapid expansion of the IMAX network in established markets such as North America, Western Europe, and Japan, as well as emerging markets such as China and Russia. IMAX theatres deliver the world's best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX®, IMAX 3D®, and IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-Mastering) technologies. IMAX DMR enables virtually any motion picture to be transformed into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience®.
IMAX is headquartered in New York, Toronto and Los Angeles, with offices in London, Tokyo and Shanghai. As of March 31, 2011, there were 528 IMAX theatres (408 commercial, 120 institutional) operating in 46 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, Experience It In IMAX®, An IMAX 3D Experience® and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information about the Company can be found at www.imax.com. You may also connect with IMAX on Facebook (www.facebook.com/imax), Twitter (www.twitter.com/imax) and YouTube (www.youtube.com/imaxmovies).
The IMAX Corporation logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=6469
This press release contains forward looking statements that are based on management's assumptions and existing information and involve certain risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed or implied by such forward looking statements. Important factors that could affect these statements include, but are not limited to, general economic, market or business conditions, including the length and severity of the current economic downturn, the opportunities that may be presented to and pursued by the Company, the performance of IMAX DMR films, conditions in the in-home and out-of home entertainment industries, the signing of theatre system agreements, changes and developments in the commercial exhibition industry, the failure to convert theatre system backlog into revenue, new business initiatives, investments and operations in foreign jurisdictions, foreign currency fluctuations and the Company's prior restatements and the related litigation and investigation by the SEC and the ongoing inquiry by the OSC. These factors and other risks and uncertainties are discussed in the Company's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and most recent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.
About DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series, live entertainment properties and online virtual worlds, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management TEAM and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by FORTUNE® Magazine for three consecutive years. In 2011, DreamWorks Animation ranks #10 on the list. All of DreamWorks Animation's feature films are now being produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 21 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon.
CONTACT: Entertainment Media:
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rklein@imax.com
principal Communications Group - Los Angeles
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DreamWorks Animation Publicity
Jeff Hare
818-695-6055
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Investors:
IMAX Corporation - New York
Heather Anthony
212-821-0121
hanthony@imax.com
Business Media:
IMAX Corporation - New York
Ann Sommerlath
212-821-0155
asommerlath@imax.com
Sloane & Company - New York
Whit Clay
212-446-1864
wclay@sloanepr.com
DreamWorks Animation Corporate Communications
Shannon Olivas
818-695-3658
hannon.olivas@dreamworks.com
