Sphere transforms ‘Wizard of Oz’ into immersive AI-powered spectacle

Google’s cutting-edge technology expands 1939 classic to fill 160,000-square-foot screen

The Las Vegas Sphere will transport audiences to the Land of Oz like never before when it debuts an AI-enhanced version of the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz” on August 28, marking the venue’s first adaptation of a traditional film and showcasing the future of immersive entertainment.

In a groundbreaking partnership between Sphere Entertainment, Google Cloud, Warner Bros. Discovery, and creative tech company Magnopus, the beloved film has been reimagined for the venue’s massive 16K resolution wraparound screen using artificial intelligence to expand beyond the original frames.

AI meets classic cinema

The transformation of the 86-year-old film represents one of the most ambitious uses of AI in entertainment to date. Google Cloud and Google DeepMind deployed their most advanced AI models—including Gemini, Veo 2, and Imagen 3—to tackle the enormous technical challenge of adapting a 4:3 aspect ratio film shot on grainy 35mm Technicolor negatives to fill Sphere’s colossal curved display.

“We’re starting with the original four-by-three image on a 35mm piece of celluloid—it’s actually three separate, grainy film negatives; that’s how they shot Technicolor,” explained Buzz Hays, global lead for entertainment industry solutions at Google Cloud. “That obviously won’t work on a screen that is 160,000 square feet.”

The AI technology performs several crucial functions:

• Upscaling: Enhancing the original film’s resolution to 16K quality
• Outpainting: Extending scenes beyond their original borders to create wraparound visuals
• Performance Generation: Keeping multiple characters on screen longer than traditional editing allowed
• Character Recreation: Digitally generating characters who weren’t visible in original scenes

Beyond the yellow brick road

The project goes far beyond simply enlarging the film. Using AI “outpainting,” engineers have expanded scenes to reveal elements that existed in the story but were never captured on camera. For instance, in the scene where Dorothy talks to Aunt Em and Miss Gulch, viewers will now be able to turn and see Uncle Henry in the room—a character who was present in the story but not visible in the original frame.

Steven Hickson, director for AI foundation research at Google DeepMind, described the immense challenges: “There are scenes where the scarecrow’s nose is like 10 pixels,” highlighting the difficulty of working with such limited source material.

According to Ravi Rajamani, global head of generative AI engineering at Google Cloud, more than 90% of the movie has been touched by AI in some way.

Full sensory immersion

The experience promises to engage all senses, not just sight and sound. Glenn Derry, MSG Ventures executive vice president and visual effects artist, has incorporated 4D effects throughout the presentation:

• Haptic seating in 10,000 of the venue’s 17,600 seats
• Wind machines to simulate the tornado scenes
• Water effects for appropriate moments
• Scent technology to transport audiences to Oz
• 167,000 speakers providing full spatial audio

“Our standard on this was not to modify the film at all, but to try and bring you into [it] as if you were in the studio when it was shot,” Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan told CBS Sunday Morning.

A massive undertaking

The project represents an unprecedented collaboration involving over 2,000 people, including VFX artists, coders, and creative professionals worldwide. Google’s infrastructure, including custom AI accelerators (Tensor Processor Units), Google Kubernetes Engine, and specialized computing architecture, handles the massive data processing requirements.

The collaboration also marks the beginning of a broader AI partnership between Sphere Entertainment and Google Cloud, suggesting more classic films could receive similar treatment in the future.

Mixed reactions from early previews

Early viewers at a preview during Google Cloud Next 2025 conference reported mixed impressions. While the technical achievement was undeniable, some noted that AI-enhanced scenes occasionally displayed the “waxy” appearance common in AI-upscaled imagery, particularly in close-ups of Judy Garland.

Tech journalist writing for Android Authority compared the experience to immersive art exhibitions like those featuring Van Gogh’s work, suggesting it should be viewed as “a new way to experience that art” rather than a replacement for the original.

Pushing entertainment boundaries

The timing aligns with renewed interest in Oz, following the success of “Wicked” and with “Wicked: For Good” set for November 2025 release. The project represents what many see as a pivotal moment in entertainment technology, comparable to the original film’s groundbreaking use of Technicolor.

“It’s fitting that a work that once broke cinematic boundaries will do so again,” Google noted in announcing the project.

Practical details

“The Wizard of Oz at Sphere” opens to the public on August 28, 2025. While specific ticket prices haven’t been announced, Sphere events typically command premium prices, with previous shows ranging from $100 to several hundred dollars per seat.

The venue, which opened in September 2023, has already hosted immersive concerts by U2 and The Eagles, as well as the custom-made film “Postcard From Earth.” With its 20,000-person capacity and status as one of Las Vegas’s newest landmarks, Sphere continues to push the boundaries of live entertainment.

Whether this AI-enhanced classic will introduce “The Wizard of Oz” to a new generation or represent a concerning trend in film modification remains to be seen. What’s certain is that Dorothy’s journey down the yellow brick road has never been quite like this.

Image Sources: https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/articles/wizard-oz-sphere-buy-tickets-185407965.html

Category: Nightlife
Subcategory: Entertainment
Date: 07/29/2025