Beginning with this week's Star Wars: The Force Awakens directed by J.J. Abrams, Deluxe's Stereo D, has been commissioned by Lucasfilm and The Walt Disney Studios to create the stereoscopic editions for three upcoming releases in the iconic Star Wars franchise. The other two titles are Rogue One directed by Gareth Edwards and releasing on December 16, 2016, and Star Wars: Episode VIII, directed by Rian Johnson and releasing on May 26, 2017.
This marks the first collaboration between Lucasfilm and Burbank-based Stereo D. Stereo D is a subsidiary of Deluxe Entertainment Services Group.
In making the announcement, president of Deluxe's Stereo D William Sherak said, "As a company of artists and technicians who all embrace their inner Jedi, we are thrilled and honored to be part of the Star Wars franchise. As a life-long fan, this represents the ultimate in wish fulfillment."
"The quality of Stereo D's work provides visually exciting experiences for all audiences and we are very pleased to be working with them on the next three movies in the Star Wars franchise," says Lucasfilm's senior vice president of physical production Jason McGatlin. "A creative collaboration between Lucasfilm, ILM and Stereo D allows us to leverage efficiencies and deliver an amazing 3D experience."
Work on Star Wars: The Force Awakens reunited Deluxe with Abrams, for whom Stereo D produced 3D on Star Trek Into Darkness. The studio had also collaborated with ILM, the Lucasfilm-based visual effects powerhouse, on a robust pipeline to create the stereoscopic 3D on Marvel's The Avengers, Marvel's Captain America: The Winter Soldier, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, among others.
Deluxe's Stereo D executive vice president and chief creative officer Aaron Parry and his team will oversee the stereo production in tandem with Lucasfilm's vice president of visual effects Janet Lewin and Lucasfilm's vice president of post-production Pippa Anderson.
Stereo D has created the 3D conversions for more than 30 films, including Titanic in3D from Twentieth Century Fox; Marvel's Avengers: Age of Ultron, Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy, Marvel's The Avengers, Marvel's Iron Man 3 and Marvel's Thor; as well as Jurassic Park 3D, and Jurassic World, from Universal Pictures; and Star Trek Into Darkness from Paramount Pictures.
Stereo D www.stereodllc.com
Deluxe Entertainment Services Group www.bydeluxe.com