6 Minute Prologue For TDKR attached to Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

8 Minute ‘Dark Knight Rises’ Prologue Attached to ‘Mission: Impossible Ghost Protocol’ in IMAX?
Posted on Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 by Germain Lussier

A trusted theater (read: exhibitor) source has just exclusively alerted /Film that Warner Bros. plans to attach an eight minute prologue to The Dark Knight Rises to all IMAX prints of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. Christopher Nolan‘s third film in his Batman trilogy is being released by Warner Bros. and Brad Bird‘s first live action film is Paramount, but the arrangement would certainly be mutually beneficial as Mission: Impossible is the biggest IMAX release of the holiday season. Putting a teaser for The Dark Knight Rises in front of it would certainly drive audiences to that format as opposed to regular theaters. There’s more after the break.

Warner Bros. did something similar in 2007 when they attached the opening sequence to The Dark Knight to the Will Smith film I Am Legend. Without one of their own films being released in IMAX later this year, however, Mission: Impossible should draw in the same coveted 18-35 demo that are sure to be repeat Batman viewers. Nolan and Bird both also shot extensive scenes for each movie in IMAX, making it their format of choice for exhibition.

If this happens, audiences would get their first chance at seeing The Dark Knight Rises footage in IMAX on December 16. That’s because Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is opening exclusively in IMAX five days before its general release, which is on December 21. The exclusive opening is one reason to see the film in IMAX. The full scenes shot in IMAX format are another. And 8 minutes from the most anticipated film of this decade are a serious bonus.

Reached for contact, Warner Bros. declined to comment on this story. So, assuming our source is correct, what do you think? Odds are you were going to see Mission: Impossible either way, but will you go now specifically for The Dark Knight Rises?

6-Minute The Dark Knight Rises IMAX Prologue Confirmed
by Silas Lesnick
October 24, 2011
But only at theaters with 70mm projection

Last week, the rumor appeared that Warner Bros. Pictures is planning on showing a six-minute prologue for The Dark Knight Rises with Paramount Pictures' early release of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol in IMAX theaters on December 16 (the film has its general release on Dec. 21). Today, AMC Theatres has confirmed the rumor with the additional detail that the prologue will only screen at 70mm IMAX screens and not at digital IMAX locations.

The plan matches the screening situation in December 2007 where The Dark Knight attached its opening sequence to IMAX prints of I Am Legend.

The Dark Knight Rises opens in theaters on July 20, 2012. Check back soon for a full listing of when and where the prologue can be seen.

Read more about:Batman

Comicbookfan-V2 wrote:Click here to see the prologue... http://www.megavideo.com/v/5K8P4N3Rb8170e7d1eba2701a0c0ba9750c20b28

webhead2006 wrote:What about this one:

non_amos wrote:WB is nipping these things in the bud left & right! If only we could see a quality one long enough to even see it!

Apologist Puncher wrote:You know, it's funny. Every time Hardly's "Bane" spoke, it reminded me of THIS:



And I knew which one was "Bane" when they were sitting in the vehicle. Did you?

non_amos wrote:Yeah. The puny one!

And the prologue is still up. Unbelievable!

Apologist Puncher wrote:

non_amos wrote:Yeah. The puny one!

And the prologue is still up. Unbelievable!

It goes to show that all the idiots thinking Nolan was going to do something to cover Hardly's diminutive stature were, well, idiots.

BOX OFFICE: Warner Bros. "Annoyed" With TDKR Prologue Boost For MISSION IMPOSSIBLE

The studio is said to be annoyed over missing out on the opportunity to attach TDKR prologue to Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows,which has underperformed after Ghost Protocol was given a huge boost by the sixminutes of footage.

Deadline report that Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows is expected to take considerably less than the previous instalment in the franchise (Sherlock Holmes made $62.3M vs. Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows' expected $40M). Warner Bros. has responded to these figures, pointing out that the last one actually opened up during Christmas when children were out of school and are confident that they'll be able to make up the difference in the coming weeks.

Meanwhile, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol has exceeded expectations, helped by the higher IMAX ticket prices and The Dark Knight Rises prologue. However, Warner Bros. are extremely annoyed with what a boost the six minutes of footage has given to Paramount as they were unable to book Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows into IMAX. This resulted in them obviously being unable to pair the prologue with their own product, missing out on an easy and free marketing opportunity. However, they have of course attached a new trailer to Holmes, possibly explaining their reluctance to release it online in a bid to earn some extra money from the hype surrounding the movie and from those unable to make it to one of the limited number of 70MM screens.

1. Sherlock Holmes: Game Of Shadows (Warner Bros) NEW [3,703 Theaters] Friday $14.7M, Saturday $15M, Weekend $40M

2. Alvin And The Chipmunks: Chipwrecked (Fox) NEW [3,723 Theaters] Friday $6.8M, Saturday $9.9M, Weekend $23.5M

3. Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (Paramount) NEW [425 Theaters] Friday $4.7M, Saturday $4.8M, Weekend $13.3M

4. New Year’s Eve (Warner Bros) Week 2 [3,505 Theaters] Friday $2.5M, Saturday $2.9M, Weekend $7.4M (-42%), Cume $24.8M)

5. The Sitter (Fox) Week 2 [2,752 Theater] Friday $1.4M, Saturday $1.8M, Weekend $4.4M (-55%), Cume $17.7M