Cars 2, Mars Needs Moms and Pirates of the Caribbean 4 coming to IMAX in 3D next year

Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End
Geoffrey Rush, Keira Knightley and Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End

IMAX and Walt Disney Studios are teaming up to release three more 3D pictures in IMAX theatres in 2011. The titles included are Mars Needs Moms, starring Seth Green and Joan Cusack, slated for release on March 11, 2011 and executive produced by Robert Zemeckis; Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, starring Johnny Depp and Penelope Cruz, slated for release on May 20, 2011 and Cars 2, slated for release on June 25, 2011.

The expanded partnership between IMAX and Disney will bring some of the Studio’s most highly anticipated theatrical releases in 2011 and beyond to IMAX venues around the world.

Commenting on the announcement, Chuck Viane of Walt Disney Motion Pictures said, “The incredible performance of our IMAX releases in 2009 and 2010 demonstrated that the combination of IMAX and Disney resonates with moviegoers worldwide. We’re very much looking forward to continuing this great partnership through 2011 with an incredible slate of exciting films. The IMAX Experience adds another level of impact and excitement to a movie, and with these new films, made by some of the industry’s most innovative filmmakers, audiences are in for are real treat.”

“These films are ideal additions to our slate, and we’re excited to combine the power of the Disney and IMAX brands with two iconic movie franchises as well as continuing our long standing partnership with Bob Zemeckis,” said Greg Foster of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “Disney’s commitment to 3D and its partnership with IMAX has helped to transform the way people see movies, and we’re thrilled to keep the momentum going.”

Simon Wells (Balto, The Prince of Egypt) directs Mars Needs Moms!, which centers on a young boy named Milo who gains a deeper appreciation for his mom after Martians come to Earth to take her away.

Rob Marshall (Nine, Memoirs of a Geisha) takes the place of director Gore Verbinski – who’s busy developing Heavy Metal and a remake of Korean monster film The Host – for Pirates of the Caribbean 4, which sees Jack Sparrow and Barbossa embarking on a quest to find the elusive fountain of youth, only to discover that Blackbeard and his daughter are after it too.

Cars 2 continues the story of Lightning McQueen and his band of hot rods, this time directed by Brad Lewis.