Star Wars: The Force Awakens' Final Act Is In 70MM IMAX

Is the Escape From Jakku the final sequence?

We're now getting to the stage where the actual release of the next Star Wars film is visible on the horizon. The Force is definitely stirring from slumber. Alarms are starting to sound. And news of what we can expect is still dripping slowly through to fans who both want to know everything and have nothing spoiled for them. Luckily, JJ Abrams has made sure the decision on spoilers has been made for them by keeping everything locked up. But one new piece of information has just been revealed by the team at IMAX, who have confirmed that the final act of The Force Awakens has been shot in IMAX. Back in August, Vahn at MakingStarWars.net confirmed that he'd been invited to install The Force Awakens into the IMAX projector of his local cinema a week before the film is released, and revealed that he'd been given the specs of the IMAX version of the film... The theaters that house a €œtrue€ eight story tall IMAX screen will present the film in actual 70MM film reel; presenting the 70MM shot scenes in its full screen glory. There will be two 70MM prints running through the IMAX projector to have the film play in IMAX 3D; rest assured it€™s not the gimmick post converted 3D. It€™s what IMAX was founded on, showcasing the best and most immersive 3D ever. The 70MM IMAX presentation will not play at the €œgimmick€ shrunk IMAX theaters. Those will showcase the standard Digital IMAX converted format. In that same post, Vahn announced that the one scene Abrams had shot in 70MM IMAX - a "huge action scene" - would most likely be the escape from Jakku sequence. Official behind the scenes shots have teased as much - including revealing that Daisy Ridley's Rey would be piloting the Millennium Falcon during that sequence - and the IMAX teaser that screened last November showed a full 70MM shot of the Falcon. So, putting the two bits of information together, it would seem that the escape from Jakku will come at the film's climax. That might go some way to explaining why Rey is in charge of the Falcon and not Han Solo, if rumours of his death are to be taken as gospel... Incidentally, according to Film Editor Alex Leadbeater, the IMAX footage looks incredible, adding awesome depth to the shots of space. Almost as if it's all in a galaxy far, far away...
Contributor
Contributor

WhatCulture's former COO, veteran writer and editor.