Avengers: Infinity War to be the first film shot with new IMAX cameras

Marvel Studios’ upcoming Avengers: Infinity War saga already has all the makings of a groundbreaking cinematic blockbuster, but the two-part project is apparently blazing a new trail off-screen as well.

Marvel and IMAX announced today that Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 & 2 will be shot entirely with IMAX and ARRI’s brand new, next-generation 2D digital Alexa 65 cameras, making it the first feature film to be completely shot using IMAX cameras in the IMAX-specific aspect ratio.

“The intent with the Infinity War films is to bring ten years of accumulative storytelling to an incredible climax,” said Infinity War directors Joe and Anthony Russo in a statement accompanying the announcement. “We felt that the best way to exploit the scale and scope required to close out the final chapter of these three phases, was to be the first films shot entirely on the IMAX/ARRI Digital camera.”

The Russo brothers are expected to get some experience with the cameras while filming selected action scenes for Captain America: Civil War, the 2016 film that kicks off the second phase of Marvel’s cinematic universe.

Captain America franchise star Chris Evans recently revealed Marvel’s plans to shoot both parts of the Infinity War saga back-to-back over the course of nine months.

“Over the years, IMAX has had the incredible good fortune to work with some of the world’s finest, most talented filmmakers, who continue to push the envelope both technically and creatively,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President of IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment in another statement accompanying the Infinity War news. “We could not be more excited to deepen our partnership with Joe and Anthony Russo, a pair of filmmakers we believe are next-generation trailblazers. Marvel’s Avengers franchise has become a global phenomenon and to have it pay off in this epic way using the IMAX/ARRI digital camera is the very definition of event movie-going.”

Avengers: Infinity War – Part 1 is scheduled to hit theaters May 4, 2018, with Avengers: Infinity War – Part 2 debuting a year later on May 3, 2019.