Sphere’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Experience Showcases Generative AI’s Cinematic Power
In a groundbreaking blend of cinematic history and emerging technology, The Wizard of Oz at Sphere is set to debut on August 28 as one of the most ambitious AI-powered film reconceptualizations to date.
The classic 1939 film, remembered for its dramatic shift from black-and-white Kansas to the colorful Land of Oz, now breaks new ground once again — this time through the lens of generative AI.
The project is a collaboration between Google DeepMind, Google Cloud, Sphere Studios, Magnopus, Warner Bros. Discovery, and more. Together, they’ve reimagined the iconic film using cutting-edge AI models — Imagen, Veo, and Gemini — on the world’s largest LED screen, located at the Sphere venue in Las Vegas.
A Spherical Spectacle
The Sphere’s 17,600-seat theater features a 160,000-square-foot screen with 16K resolution, demanding visuals that go well beyond traditional CGI capabilities. To meet the challenge, the team started with the original 35mm film negatives, enhancing them with a custom-built AI “super resolution” system.
According to Buzz Hays, global lead for entertainment industry solutions at Google Cloud, “We’re working to bring the original characters and environments to life on a whole new canvas.”
Fine-Tuning a Classic
The AI tools didn’t just upscale footage — they rebuilt scenes. Through AI outpainting, the system filled in camera cut gaps and expanded environments to fully immerse audiences. Performance generation added natural gestures and detailed character expressions, recreating iconic moments while staying true to the film’s original spirit.
Dr. Steven Hickson of Google DeepMind noted the seemingly impossible nature of the task: “We’d find something we can’t do, think it’s impossible, and a month later realize — maybe we can do that.”
Archival Detail Meets AI Precision
The team also accessed a treasure trove of archival content, including production notes, sketches, and set designs, to train the AI on finer details. This process — known as fine-tuning — allowed models to render Dorothy’s freckles, Toto’s movements, and period-accurate staging with remarkable fidelity.
Dr. Irfan Essa, principal research scientist at Google DeepMind, shared the team’s excitement: “This is the best opportunity to showcase the magic that we develop using AI.”
Innovation Meets Legacy
Despite its heavy reliance on AI, the production avoided adding any new lines or music. Every creative decision was made with input from Warner Bros. to ensure authenticity. “You have to be able to take a leap of faith,” said Jim Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment. “‘The Wizard of Oz at Sphere’ is clearly a leap of faith.”
This reimagining of The Wizard of Oz isn’t just a visual upgrade — it’s a milestone in cinematic innovation, pointing to the growing role of generative AI in storytelling.
