Game of Thrones coming to IMAX January 23rd

George R.R. Martin is getting his wish to see Game of Thrones on the big screen–the very, very big screen. Game of Thrones is going to be on IMAX!

Oh, but it gets better. According to Variety,

An exclusive Season 5 trailer, as well as the final two episodes of the fourth season, will get an unprecedented run Jan. 23-29 at 150 theaters in top markets across the U.S.

Those final two episodes of Season 4, “The Watchers on The Wall” and “The Children,” will be digitally remastered to work for the IMAX experience. Both episodes had some of the most impressive CGI and camera work of the whole series. “The Watchers on The Wall” had not only the huge in scope over-the-wall shot, but also the big 360 degree fight in the courtyard. Both episodes were nominated for Emmys this past season, including writing and directing.

So when and where can you buy tickets? They’re not on sale yet, but according to Variety, it will be “an unspecified price” and “in the coming weeks” through IMAX.com. (IMAX doesn’t have anything on their website yet, as they’re still in All Hobbit All The Time mode.) As soon as we see tickets go on sale, we’ll let you know.

“The cinematic brilliance and grand scope of the series is perfect for the IMAX format,” said Pamela Levine, chief marketing officer at HBO.  “We are always looking to provide fans with new and exciting ways to experience the show and viewing two key episodes, along with the new trailer, on such an impressive platform makes for a great event.”

“IMAX always seeks innovative ways to provide moviegoers a unique and differentiated experience and today’s partnership with HBO and ‘Game of Thrones’ achieves just that,” said IMAX CEO Richard L. Gelfond. “This deal also furthers our efforts to offer exhibitors the opportunity to participate in alternative forms of content in a new and exciting way.”

EW also spoke with IMAX:

“We couldn’t think of a series more fitting than Game of Thrones to be the first presented in IMAX,” said Greg Foster, senior executive vice president, IMAX Corp. “The scope and production quality of the show is quite remarkable, which will be highlighted even further in select IMAX locations – allowing fans, as never before, to become a part of author George R.R. Martin’s world that [showrunners] David Benioff and D. B. Weiss created for HBO. It has the action, storyline and epic nature that our fans seek in IMAX and we’re thrilled to team with HBO and our longtime partners at Warner Brothers to offer audiences a chance to experience it in the ultimate theater setting joined by other fans of the series.”

There’s one thing that’s not clear here though. Does this means there will be still be a Season 5 trailer aired on HBO prior to this screening? Or is this exclusive trailer that’s running along with these movie-fied episodes count as the announcement for the first trailer for Season 5? (Not that you have to go see the IMAX showing to see the exclusive trailer, as we can all be sure it will show up on YouTube post haste.)

One has to wonder though, depending on how well this week of screenings does, if HBO will become more receptive to George R.R. Martin’s advocating for “Seven seasons and a movie” for Game of Thrones? Up until now, I had personally discounted all talk of the show ending with a movie, but with HBO’s deal with IMAX, that may become a much more lucrative prospect to HBO than it once was.

• Published on 01/06/2015 at 6:05 AM CDT
• Last updated on 10/21/2016 at 1:07 PM CDT