‘Wizard of Oz’ blown up by AI for giant Sphere screen

Las Vegas is set to host a cinematic spectacle like no other as the iconic film, “The Wizard of Oz,” prepares for its debut on the colossal Sphere screen starting August 28. This isn’t merely a projection of a classic; it’s a groundbreaking reimagining, powered significantly by artificial intelligence, transforming the beloved movie into an immersive experience for the 160,000 square foot, wraparound LED display.

Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan revealed that a dedicated team of 2,000 professionals has been meticulously working to craft this new cinematic encounter. The core of this ambitious project lies in the sophisticated application of AI, which is being utilized not only to dramatically increase the resolution of the original film but also to expand the visual scope far beyond the confines of the originally shot frames.

Turner Classic Movie presenter Ben Mankiewicz highlighted the astounding capabilities of this AI integration in a segment on CBS Sunday Morning. He explained how a once “grainy close-up of Dorothy becomes richly detailed” through AI. Furthermore, a process dubbed “outpainting”—which Mankiewicz likened to magic—enables the expansion of scenes to reveal elements like “the rest of the Scarecrow, the Yellow Brick Road, and the mountains of Oz” that were never part of the original composition. In some instances, this frame expansion even involves generating new performances from the existing actors, seamlessly integrating them into the expanded visual landscape.

Despite these profound technological interventions, Dolan emphasized the guiding principle behind the endeavor: “Our standard on this was not to modify the film at all but to try and bring you into the film, as if you were in the studio when it was shot.” This commitment aims to preserve the artistic integrity of the 1939 masterpiece while offering audiences an unparalleled, deeply immersive journey into the magical world of Oz.