The Dark Knight Rises Opening Will Play Before M: I 4 in IMAX
Wed, October 19, 2011 
Not been confirmed by anyone, but judging by their strategy of how they sold The Dark Knight and how religiously they're following that pattern for The Dark Knight Rises, everyone is expecting a full-length theatrical trailer in December.
One big move in their game plan was attaching the opening sequence from Christopher Nolan's first Batman sequel in front of Warner Brother's big Christmas 2007 tentpole I Am Legend. /film says WB, being the superstitious types, will mirror that play by attaching the opening minutes of Rises to a big IMAX release. In this case, it won't be their own Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows but surprisingly Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol from rival Paramount. M:I 4 (Word from early screenings is Josh Holloway steals the damn movie away from everyone else and the action sequences deliver) opens exclusively in IMAX theaters on December 16, the same day the Holmes sequel opens everywhere, before dropping on all screens on the 21st.
Just what will be in those cock-teasing few minutes for IMAX audiences is the $64,000 question. Although early indications suggest it may not be heavy on the action side as was the case for the bank-robbery opening from The Dark Knight. Something more on the side of exposition, i.e. the leaked Liam Neeson cameo perhaps.
Reader Comments (1)
This is most peculiar, though it makes some sort of sense. No matter how good "Ghost Patroll" MIGHT be (and I sincerely hope it is good), it will need all the help it can get to go up against Sherlock Holmes and it's (as of now, seemingly more visible) marketing. I guess Paramount will end up giving Warner Brothers some of it's box office as a result.