A landmark collaboration is set to redefine immersive entertainment as Google and Sphere Entertainment Co. join forces, leveraging cutting-edge generative AI (gen AI) to bring *The Wizard of Oz* to the Sphere in Las Vegas. Announced today, this partnership utilizes Google's AI prowess to adapt the beloved 1939 classic for Sphere's massive, high-resolution screen, marking a significant leap in visual storytelling comparable to the original film's pioneering use of Technicolor nearly nine decades ago. This ambitious project, involving thousands of creators and first-of-its-kind engineering, is slated to debut on August 28, 2025. To achieve this unprecedented cinematic experience, Google Cloud and Google DeepMind are deploying finely-tuned AI models, including Gemini, Veo 2, and Imagen 3. These tools are essential for intelligently enhancing the film's resolution, seamlessly extending backgrounds to fit the immersive canvas, and digitally recreating characters in ways previously impossible. The sheer scale of the undertaking is underscored by the immense data processing involved – 1.2 petabytes to date – managed effectively through Google Cloud's highly scalable and AI-optimized infrastructure. Jim Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment, highlighted the necessity of this partnership, stating, "The power of generative AI, combined with Google's infrastructure and expertise, is helping us to achieve something extraordinary... Google was the only company equipped to meet the challenge on the world's highest resolution LED screen." Echoing this sentiment, Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian added, "Our partnership with Sphere... is a great example of pushing the boundaries of generative AI to deliver exciting new experiences for audiences... We are honored to play a role in such an ambitious project." The original *The Wizard of Oz* was a technological marvel of its time, filmed with a revolutionary three-strip Technicolor camera. Now, nearly 90 years later, Sphere aims to recapture that spirit of innovation by presenting an immersive version on its vast 160,000-square-foot interior display plane. This modern adaptation blends Google's AI capabilities with traditional visual effects and film techniques to faithfully expand scenes and enhance characters, creating an experience uniquely possible within the Sphere environment. The technical execution relies heavily on Google's advanced AI capabilities, powered by infrastructure including custom Tensor Processor Units (TPUs) and Google Kubernetes Engine (GKE). Key techniques being employed include:Super Resolution: Veo is utilized to intelligently upscale the film's resolution, filling in missing pixels to generate an ultra-crisp 16K image suitable for Sphere's demanding 16K x 16K display. This requires sophisticated algorithms capable of understanding and reconstructing fine details from the original footage.Outpainting: To expand the film's visuals for the wrap-around screen, Veo seamlessly extends backgrounds and character presence, generating coherent elements true to the original film's aesthetic and immersing the audience within the scenes.Performance Generation: Combining Veo for generation with Gemini for instructions allows for innovative storytelling where multiple characters can remain on screen for extended periods, enhancing immersion beyond traditional editing constraints.Context Window: The extra-long context window capabilities of Gemini and Veo are crucial for maintaining visual and narrative consistency across extended sequences, ensuring the enhanced visuals remain coherent throughout the experience.This venture represents more than just a technological showcase; it signifies a pivotal moment for the future of entertainment and the preservation and reimagining of classic cinema. By harnessing the power of generative AI, Google and Sphere are not only adapting a timeless story for a new medium but are also creating entirely new possibilities for filmmakers and audiences alike. The project demonstrates how advanced technology can enhance artistic integrity, offering a glimpse into a future where beloved narratives can be experienced in profoundly new and immersive ways, bridging the gap between historical filmmaking milestones and the frontiers of digital innovation.
