Much like The Force Awakens before it, Star Wars: The Last Jedi has been partially shot in IMAX.
Two years ago, J.J. Abrams utilized the large-screen format while filming scenes in Abu Dhabi, as he set about crafting the origin story of Rey, along with that Millennium Falcon chase sequence that had viewers perched on the edge of their seats. Little is currently known about how director Rian Johnson will incorporate his own IMAX sequences into The Last Jedi, but let’s not forget that the director hauled an IMAX camera to Skellig Michael, the Irish isle that doubles as the First Jedi Temple, so a scene involving Luke and Rey is almost a forgone conclusion. Either way, rest assured that Disney’s Episode VIII will take advantage of the exclusive aspect ratio and increased image quality that IMAX affords.
Today’s announcement is part of an extended multi-picture deal between IMAX and the Mouse House that will run through 2019, and will ensure the likes of Indiana Jones 5 and Colin Trevorrow’s untitled Star Wars: Episode IX all benefit from the large-screen format. Other blockbusters earmarked for the IMAX treatment include Beauty and the Beast, A Wrinkle in Time, Mulan – and that’s Disney’s version of Mulan, not Sony’s – The Incredibles 2, Toy Story 4, Wreck-It Ralph 2, Black Panther, Ant-Man and the Wasp, Captain Marvel, Avengers: Infinity War, the untitled Han Solo Star Wars anthology film, along with the as-yet-untitled fourth Avengers movie.
Star Wars: The Last Jedi has been slated for release on December 15th. It’s the second mainline entry into Disney and Lucasfilm’s rejuvenated juggernaut, and will be followed in quick succession by Phil Lord and Chris Miller’s untitled Han Solo movie in 2018, which is just now being prepped for principal photography.