Game of Thrones is event-TV at its best and now it could be heading to the big screen down under.
IMAX Australia and HBO are in talks about showing previous Game of Thrones episodes, ahead of season five which starts in April.
Speaking to AdNews, CEO at IMAX Theatre Sydney, Mark Bretherton, said a decision on whether episodes of George R.R. Martin's best-selling book series/turned TV mega hit, would be shown in IMAX theatres across Australia, should be made by the end of the month.
“It's under discussion, we are waiting, and we should know by the end of the month,” Bretherton said.
“It would be a couple of selected episodes as a one-off.”
It is thought the episodes may be the final two in series four, as many will be seeking a refresher ahead of season five.
In the US the final two episodes of season four, "The Watchers on the Wall" and "The Children" will be digitally remastered into the immersive format, making Game of Thrones the first television series to be showcased in IMAX theaters. These US showings will be followed by the worldwide debut of the season five sneak-peek trailer created exclusively for IMAX.
Bretherton said once something like this happens in one IMAX, it is likely to role out across the globe – although it's not guaranteed.
He said as Game of Thrones was not filmed using specialist IMAX cameras it would need to be digitally mastered in-house, by IMAX.
It could be a way for IMAX to promote its screen to cinemagoers and a potential new revenue stream for cinemas. Bretherton said while this is seen as a one off, IMAX has found ways to fill empty day seats in the week by putting on documentary films for big school excursions.
“While other cinemas have struggled at times and find themselves scratching around for content, we are very busy with our school excursions - so between that and the big Hollywood movies we are happy,” he said.
Bretherton is also in talks with the BBC about airing some of its new IMAX camera shot documentaries in Australia later this year.
This year is tipped to be big year for cinema. Speaking to AdNews in October last year, cinema ad sales house Val Morgan said it was planning to capitalise on the renewed vigour from Hollywood following a swathe of reinvestment in cinema complexes globally, and the resulting surge in paying audiences.
After strong growth in 2013, cinema ad revenues struggled to keep up in 2014, but Val Morgan says 2015 is going to be the year of the franchise.
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