Well, the IMAX run of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol just got a lot
more interesting; /Film has it from sources within (unnamed)
theater distribution saying that a six-minute prologue to Christopher
Nolan's The Dark Knight Rises will screen in front of all IMAX prints of "Ghost Protocol." Begin public rejoicing/rioting ... now.
Naturally, Warner Bros. won't confirm anything because they never really do as
far as the "Batman" series is concerned. However, it wouldn't be a
stretch to see this happening. In 2007, they did the same thing by
releasing the prologue from The Dark Knight in front of I Am Legend.
However, naysayers would point out that "Legend" was a Warner Bros.
film, while "Ghost Protocol" is a Paramount picture. A valid point, but
given the overwhelming anticipation for "Rises" and that "Ghost Protocol" is the IMAX event of the season, it can only be seen as
profitable for both sides. Of course, it could be even more profitable for WB, but both studios are not lacking capital right now.
Another point to make in how this story is (God-willing) more than a
rumor: both "Rises" and "Protocol" are marketing/priding themselves in
their lack of 3D and exclusivity to the IMAX format. Numerous scenes
from "Rises" are said to have been shot entirely using IMAX technology with the same being said for "Ghost Protocol." Seeing as how the IMAX run of
"Protocol" will be given a three-week head start, at least the wait to see
if this is for real will be a shorter one. The wait for the entire
"Rises" will forever continue to be excruciating.
