The Sphere in Las Vegas has redefined cinematic immersion with its latest offering: “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere.” This ambitious project, a true **Technological Spectacle**, transforms the beloved 1939 film into a 75-minute, 4D experience designed exclusively for the venue’s colossal spherical screen. Premiering on August 28, 2025, this reimagining leverages cutting-edge AI and multi-sensory technology to transport audiences into Dorothy’s world like never before. The production represents a significant collaboration across multiple industries, sparking both excitement and debate, as it seeks to revitalize the movie-going experience.
A Collaborative Masterpiece
“The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” is the result of a powerful alliance between Sphere Entertainment Co., Warner Bros. Discovery, Google (including Google DeepMind and Google Cloud), and Magnopus. According to Sphere Entertainment Co., the project assembled a team of over a thousand artists, technologists, and researchers from Sphere Studios. The creative powerhouse includes Academy Award and Emmy-nominated producer Jane Rosenthal, who also consults on Sphere’s programming, and Oscar-winning visual effects supervisor Ben Grossmann of Magnopus. Jennifer Lame, an Academy Award-winning editor, and Creative Director Zack Winokur also contributed their expertise. Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, along with Buzz Hays, who leads Google Cloud’s entertainment industry solutions group, emphasized the pivotal role of Google’s advanced AI technologies in bringing this vision to life, as noted in a Google press release.
How AI Powers the Immersion
The heart of the “Wizard of Oz at Sphere” experience lies in its innovative use of artificial intelligence. The original film, initially formatted for a 4:3 movie screen, has been meticulously expanded and upscaled to fill Sphere’s massive 160,000-square-foot interior LED display plane. This display boasts a staggering 16K resolution, enveloping the audience in a truly immersive visual experience. This expansion wasn’t merely a matter of stretching the existing footage; AI was instrumental in enhancing the resolution of the original celluloid frames. According to Ben Grossmann of Magnopus, AI was used to “outpaint” scenes, extending the edges of the frame and generating entirely new performances for characters previously out of shot, such as Uncle Henry. This process effectively reimagines the film for a modern, panoramic viewing experience.
Beyond Visuals: A 4D Experience
The immersive experience extends far beyond visuals, leveraging Sphere’s advanced technologies to create a truly multi-sensory spectacle. The venue features 167,000 programmable speakers for Sphere Immersive Sound, delivering a remarkably clear and spatially accurate audio experience. In addition, haptic seats provide vibrations and emit tones, further immersing the audience in the on-screen action. Sphere also utilizes environmental effects, including high-velocity wind arrays, atmospheric fog, and towering fire bursts, to simulate the sensations of being in Kansas or the Haunted Forest. Custom scents, designed to correspond with different scenes, add another layer of realism, from the clean air of Kansas to the earthy notes of the forest. The film’s original songs have been remastered and re-recorded with over 80 musicians, bringing a new level of clarity and immersion to the iconic soundtrack, a detail highlighted by Jane Rosenthal in an interview with FOH Magazine.
Timeline and Location
The “Wizard of Oz at Sphere” project commenced in 2023, requiring two years of intensive development. Tickets went on sale in June 2025, and the immersive experience officially opened on August 28, 2025. Multiple showtimes are available daily, with tickets currently on sale through March 2026. The Sphere is located at 255 Sands Ave. in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, connected to Sphere, offers exclusive hotel and ticket packages for the experience. Outside The Sphere, a celebratory outdoor activation features a 50-foot-long installation of the Wicked Witch of the East’s legs and 22-foot-tall ruby slippers, accompanied by a display on the Exosphere depicting Dorothy’s farmhouse landing on the witch.
The Vision Behind the Spectacle
The primary objective of “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” is to reimagine a cultural touchstone for contemporary audiences within the revolutionary setting of The Sphere. The project seeks to fully harness Sphere’s immersive technologies, pushing the boundaries of experiential entertainment and forging a new emotional connection with the classic film. The aim is to make audiences feel like active participants in Dorothy’s journey. Moreover, the project serves as a showcase for AI-human creative collaboration, with industry experts viewing it as a potential turning point in Hollywood’s adoption of AI tools. By providing a premium, high-quality, and immersive experience that cannot be replicated at home, Sphere aims to revitalize the movie-going experience and elevate Las Vegas’ live-entertainment offerings, according to statements made by representatives from Sphere Entertainment Co.
Impact and Reception
The Technological Spectacle Debate
“The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” has sparked significant discussion and, in some quarters, controversy. While proponents hail it as a testament to the fusion of classic cinema and modern technology, envisioning it as a blueprint for high-margin, scalable AI-driven immersive entertainment, some film enthusiasts have expressed concerns. Some critics have labeled the AI alterations and expansion of the original film as “sacrilege” or “vandalism,” as reported by Vulture. Despite the debate, the project is widely recognized as a significant milestone in AI-human creative collaboration, potentially setting a precedent for how culturally significant media can be reimagined.
Audience Demand and Future Implications
The production is driving strong demand, with ticket prices starting at $104, and pre-sales exceeding 120,000 tickets by August 2025, indicating a willingness among audiences to pay a premium for unique, immersive experiences. The production is pushing the boundaries of the visual medium and the exhibition of shows and concerts, emphasizing quality, storytelling, and innovation to draw audiences back to theaters. Ultimately, “The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” is setting a new benchmark for large-scale presentations in the entertainment industry, as noted in a recent article in The Washington Post.
Conclusion
“The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” is more than just a movie screening; it’s a reimagining of a classic through the lens of cutting-edge technology. By blending AI, 4D effects, and immersive sound, the production aims to create an unparalleled entertainment experience. While the use of AI to alter and expand the original film has sparked debate, the project’s success hinges on its ability to draw audiences back to theaters with a premium, high-quality spectacle that cannot be replicated at home, potentially setting a new course for the future of entertainment.
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