AI brings fresh magic to Technicolor classic ahead of Sphere’s 2025 debut.
Google and Sphere Entertainment have announced a landmark partnership to see the tech giant serve as the official artificial intelligence partner for The Wizard of Oz at Sphere, a visually reimagined version of the 1939 classic slated to open in Las Vegas in August 2025.
In a collaboration that draws comparisons to the original film’s pioneering use of Technicolor nearly a century ago, the companies will use cutting-edge generative AI to enhance, expand, and intelligently recreate the iconic world of Oz — this time across the vast, curved, high-resolution canvas of Sphere’s 160,000-square-foot interior display.
Both sides describe the project as “ambitious” and “boundary-pushing.” It involves engineering work on a scale seldom seen in entertainment. Google Cloud and DeepMind are working closely with Sphere Studios and Magnopus to deploy AI models, including Gemini, Veo 2, and Imagen 3—tools designed to boost resolution, extend environments, and even digitally reintroduce characters long absent from the screen.
“The power of generative AI, combined with Google’s infrastructure and expertise, is helping us to achieve something extraordinary,” said Jim Dolan, Executive Chairman and CEO of Sphere Entertainment. “We needed a partner who could push boundaries alongside our teams — and Google was the only company equipped to meet the challenge.”
The partnership will support the vast processing demands of the Sphere experience, with more than 1.2 petabytes of data processed so far — a reflection of the digital weight required to create Sphere’s 16K by 16K resolution environment, the highest of its kind.
For Google, the project represents an ideal testbed for its most advanced AI infrastructure.
“Our work with Sphere on The Wizard of Oz is a perfect example of pushing generative AI into new creative realms,” said Thomas Kurian, CEO of Google Cloud. “We’re honoured to support a project that brings such a beloved story to life in a way that no previous generation could have imagined.”
Key techniques include super-resolution algorithms that enhance the film’s image quality far beyond its original 35mm format and outpainting tools that expand visual elements beyond the frame to immerse audiences in newly imagined scenes.
“Performance generation” allows multiple characters to remain visible for longer without conventional cinematic cuts, while AI-driven continuity tools help preserve the narrative and visual coherence of extended sequences.
Filmed in 1939 using one of Hollywood’s earliest colour processes, the original Wizard of Oz earned its place in history with vivid imagery that has remained iconic for generations. Sphere’s new version aims to respect that legacy while offering something new.
Unlike a conventional cinema, Sphere will use its 360-degree wraparound display and spatial audio to surround guests with the sights and sounds of Oz. The venue has already hosted immersive concerts and film experiences, but Oz marks the first time a Hollywood classic will be reimagined at such a scale using generative AI.
The production is scheduled to debut on 28 August 2025 in Las Vegas, with Sphere Entertainment hinting at a limited run and potential chartered performances in future. Additional details, including ticketing and show schedules, are expected later this year.
As Hollywood and tech giants increasingly converge, the Oz partnership signals a growing trend: the use of artificial intelligence not merely as a tool for visual effects but as a cornerstone of next-generation storytelling.
And for fans of Dorothy, the Scarecrow, and that famous yellow brick road — this may be the most enchanting journey yet.
