Leonardo DiCaprio going to space…. in 3D

Leonardo DiCaprio narrates Hubble 3D
Leonardo DiCaprio narrates Hubble 3D

Warner Bros. and IMAX today announced that three-time Academy-Award nominee Leonardo DiCaprio will narrate the IMAX film Hubble 3D. The latest 3D film from the award-winning team behind Space Station 3D and other successful IMAX space films, led by producer/director Toni Myers, is scheduled for release to IMAX theatres on March 19, 2010. Hubble 3D will combine awe-inspiring IMAX 3D footage shot in space with breathtaking, never-before-seen 3D flights through Hubble imagery from the Orion Nebula to the far reaches of the cosmos. The film is the fourth IMAX 3D co-production between the two companies.

“I’m thrilled that Leonardo will be guiding our audiences on this incredible journey through the cosmos,” said producer/director Toni Myers. “It’s a tremendous honor to have him as part of the Hubble 3D team. His extraordinary gift of connecting with audiences is the perfect fit for the immersive experience of Hubble’s story.”

Dan Fellman of Warner Bros. Pictures, said, “Leonardo has earned recognition around the world not only for his achievements in film, but for being one of the preeminent voices of his generation on subjects of genuine scope that touch our lives. He is an ideal addition to the team and will introduce IMAX audiences to the real-life wonder and drama of Hubble 3D.”

Leonardo DiCaprio most recently earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for his leading role in Sam Mendes’ acclaimed drama Revolutionary Road. His numerous honors include three Oscar nominations, the first in 1994 for his work in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, followed by The Aviator, in 2005, for which he won the Golden Globe, and Blood Diamond, in 2007. DiCaprio’s additional credits include the Oscar-winning films Titanic and The Departed. He will soon star in Martin Scorsese’s Shutter Island and in Christopher Nolan’s Inception, both set for a 2010 release.

Following its March 19 debut, Hubble 3D will open in additional IMAX locations on April 23rd, timed to the Hubble Space Telescope’s 20th Anniversary.

Through the power of IMAX 3D, the film will enable movie-goers to journey through distant galaxies to explore the grandeur and mysteries of our celestial surroundings, and accompany space-walking astronauts as they attempt the most difficult and important tasks in NASA’s history. The film will offer an inspiring and unique look into the Hubble Space Telescope’s legacy and highlight its profound impact on the way we view the universe and ourselves.

The IMAX 3D camera flew onboard the Space Shuttle Atlantis last May and captured stunning 3D images of the intricate spacewalks required to service the telescope. The footage, shot by the STS-125 astronauts, will be included in the film and will put IMAX audiences right there alongside the spacewalking astronauts. The film will also feature never-before-seen 3D flights through awe-inspiring Hubble imagery, providing a first-person journey to the far reaches of our universe.

Hubble 3D is an IMAX and Warner Bros. Pictures production, in cooperation with NASA. The film reunites the Space Station 3D filmmaking team, led by producer/director Toni Myers. James Neihouse, director of photography, also doubles as the astronaut crew trainer. Judy Carroll is associate producer, and Graeme Ferguson, co-founder of IMAX and pioneer producer of many IMAX space films, is executive producer.