The Wizard of Oz Could Be Heading to the Sphere

Forget about being in Kansas because the beloved 1939 musical The Wizard of Oz is about to hit the big screen at the Sphere in Vegas. According to the NY Post, James Dolan’s $80 million vision to recreate The Wizard of Oz into an immersive experience at the Sphere will be a “digitally-enhanced, sensory spectacle.” The 102-minute film will be cut down to 80 minutes. Perhaps the most stunning part about the movie being played at the Sphere will be the film’s seamless transition from black and white into Technicolor when Dorothy crosses into the land of Oz. This captivating visual experience will be enhanced even further with state-of-the-art sound technology plugged into each seat, making the whooshing sound of the tornado all too real.

Since the Sphere is already prepped for concerts, the songs Dorothy sings with the other heart-warming characters like Scarecrow, Tin Man, and The Cowardly Lion will be nothing short of breathtaking. Perhaps what people are most looking forward to is The Wizard of Oz being the first traditional film to be portrayed at this captivating venue.

The Sphere is renowned for its wraparound 18K LED screen and concerts. Since it opened in September 2023, the $2.3 billion attraction has been a top venue for bands like U2, Phish, and Dead & Company. Rock legends, such as The Eagles, have residencies at the venue as well. Last year, Sphere showcased its first film specified for the large dome area.

In an IndieWire review of Darren Aronofsky’s experimental film Postcards from Earth (2023), the Sphere received acclaim for its “scope of the images in the front of, on the sides, above, and even behind the audience.” The theater isn’t comparable to any IMAX theater; rather, it’s a supersized spherical dome that can create 4D physical effects, enhanced with wave field synthesis technologies and beam-forming speakers.

Screen Coverage for a Traditional Narrative

This vast amount of screen coverage sparked interest in adopting a more traditional narrative, which ultimately led to the decision to bring The Wizard of Oz (1939) to the venue. At the time of this article’s publication, the popular tourist attraction is nearing the end of a deal with Warner Bros., which would give Warner Bros a 5% cut of the gross profits.

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Given that the classic film will have a new look through a 360-degree, ultra-high definition lens and immersive sound technology, tickets are anticipated to be on the pricier side. Last year, Aronofsky’s film tickets at the Sphere averaged upwards of $115 per seat. While these prices may seem expensive, the supersized IMAX venue makes most of its revenue from original content instead of concerts.

As of now, the timeline for when The Wizard of Oz (1939) will be showing at the Sphere is still up in the air. While the excitement of experiencing the Land of Oz in an all-new immersive theater rises, the Sphere is already making future plans for what’s happening next. Casino.org has reported that companies have been discussing creating a film experience about U2, the band that initially launched Sphere with its residency.