Beyond to Extend Beyond The Screen

Star Trek Beyond will extend beyond the screen when it opens in some theaters on July 22. According to The Hollywood Reporter, digital cinema technology developer Barco has been tapped by Bad Robot, Paramount Pictures and Skydance to release a special version of Beyond for Barco Escape, described by the trade paper as "a theatrical system aimed at immersing viewers in the experience with three screens stitched together across the front and side walls of a theater."

Talking to Hollywood Reporter, Ben Rosenblatt, Bad Robot producer and head of visual effects/post, revealed that as much as 20 minutes of Beyond may be seen by moviegoers in the Cinerama-esque Barco Escape. "When you're on the bridge of the Enterprise, you might see additional coverage of the bridge," Rosenblatt said. "Or you might see the Enterprise coming across the screen — and maybe you'll see more and the attacking forces. There are new ships and antagonists that are well suited to the expanded image."

J.J. Abrams, who is producing Beyond, said in a statement, "Justin Lin’s Star Trek Beyond is an epic adventure — truly larger than life. It is especially fitting, then, that we are partnering with Barco to provide an ultra wide-screen immersive experience using their unique Barco Escape format. This premium format dramatically expands the width of the viewing plane, giving filmmakers an innovative new tool with which to tell stories and audiences an enhanced new way to experience cinema."
Approximately 50 theaters nationwide will be ready -- meaning Barco Escape-equipped -- to present Beyond in Barco Escape by the time the film opens this summer.