To usher in the fifth season of "Games of Thrones," HBO is releasing the last two episodes of the fourth season on large format IMAX screens. It will have a one-week run from January 23 to 29 in about 150 theaters across the US.
The Daily Mail reports that the two episodes will be remastered in the giant-screen format and released as a "movie". It will be followed by a special trailer of the fifth season.
The critically-acclaimed epic fantasy, based on George R.R. Martin's best-selling book series "A Song of Ice and Fire," would be the first ever TV series to be shown on IMAX screens. Tickets for the show would go on sale soon.
The screening is part of IMAX's effort to overturn the declining box office sales by showing hit television series on its screens, reports The New York Times.
Pamela Levine, chief marketing officer at HBO, said that "Game of Thrones" was one of the TV shows that had the "cinematic qualities" to support the IMAX format.
One episode would cost around $6 million to $10 million to make, making the series one of the most expensive productions on television.
IMAX has expressed its interest to show other TV series in cinemas and is already in talks with other entertainment companies. It is also looking into screening live sports events.
In the same vein, there is a plan to show the sequel to the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" simultaneously on Netflix and in some IMAX theaters.
The fifth season of "Game of Thrones" will start in April, urging the premium cable network to boost its marketing and promotion as early as now.
A stand-alone Internet streaming service that does not require a standard cable or satellite subscription is part of the plans laid out by HBO for this year.
With an average of 19 million cumulative viewers, the fourth season of the hit TV show which ended in June, became the most-watched HBO original series in history.
In December, "Game Of Thrones" was named the most-searched TV show on Google of 2014. It has been nominated for Best Drama Series at the Golden Globes and the Writers Guild of America Awards.
In the 2014 Emmy Awards, the popular TV show garnered 19 nominations and took home four awards.
The announcement that "Game of Thrones" would be renewed for a sixth season came two days after the fourth season premiered in April 2014.
