TL;DR
- Las Vegas’ Sphere will screen The Wizard of Oz in an AI-upscaled, expanded format.
- A 2,000-person team enhanced the 1939 film for the 160,000 sq ft wraparound screen.
- AI “outpainting” was used to extend visuals beyond the original frame.
- The project aims to preserve the film’s authenticity while making viewers feel inside the movie.
- Launch scheduled for August 28, as revealed in a segment by CBS Sunday Morning.
AI Transforms an Iconic Film into an Immersive Experience
The Las Vegas venue known as the Sphere is set to screen its first-ever classic film — The Wizard of Oz — on August 28. However, this won’t be a typical theatrical re-release. According to CBS Sunday Morning, the 1939 classic is being completely reimagined using AI technology to match the massive scale and visual intensity of Sphere’s 160,000 square-foot wraparound LED screen.
Sphere Entertainment CEO James Dolan confirmed that a 2,000-member team is actively involved in rebuilding the visual experience. The crew is not just upscaling — they are expanding the original film with AI-generated content that extends well beyond the original frame.
AI-Powered ‘Outpainting’ Brings Oz to Life
One of the core techniques powering this visual overhaul is known as outpainting, a form of AI-generated image extension. Turner Classic Movies presenter Ben Mankiewicz shared how a grainy close-up of Dorothy is transformed into a richly detailed scene, where AI fills in missing elements like the Scarecrow, the Yellow Brick Road, and even the mountains of Oz.
Mankiewicz emphasized that while these scenes were never shot originally, AI provides a level of plausible cinematic extension that makes the viewer feel as though they’re inside the film. In some cases, AI even generates new visual performances by extrapolating movement and facial expressions from the original footage.
Maintaining Film Integrity While Enhancing Scale
Despite the heavy use of artificial intelligence, Dolan reassured the public that the project’s guiding principle was not to modify the core film, but to augment it. The creative intent is to replicate the feeling of being present in the studio during filming — not to rewrite cinematic history.
“Our standard on this was not to modify the film at all but to try and bring you into the film,” said Dolan.
By increasing the resolution, filling in the backgrounds, and making the footage feel three-dimensional, the Sphere aims to transport audiences into the Land of Oz like never before — all while staying faithful to the 1939 original.
Sphere’s Cinematic Innovation
| Project Detail | Value |
| Launch Date | August 28, 2025 |
| Venue Screen Size | 160,000 sq ft (wraparound LED) |
| Enhancement Team | 2,000+ professionals |
| Key Tech Used | AI Upscaling, Outpainting, Frame Expansion |
| Classic Film Revived | The Wizard of Oz (1939) |
A Preview of the Future of Cinema?
This project may mark the next frontier in cinematic presentation, merging legacy content with machine learning and spatial video formats. Sphere’s use of artificial intelligence is not merely technical; it’s artistic augmentation, designed to resonate emotionally with both classic film fans and new audiences.
The launch could serve as a blueprint for future AI-enhanced film exhibitions, where content is neither remade nor replaced but enlarged and enriched through technology. The Sphere’s initiative positions it not just as a venue, but as a cinematic innovation lab on the Las Vegas Strip.
