Director Maggie Gyllenhaal is ready to make movie history with her upcoming monster film titled The Bride. Starring Christian Bale and Jessie Buckley, this new take on a classic story is using IMAX technology in a way that has never been seen before. While most movies use this giant screen format for big action scenes or outdoor shots, Gyllenhaal is doing something much more personal. She plans to use the expanded screen space specifically to show what is happening inside a character’s mind.
The film is set in 1930s Chicago and follows a lonely Frankenstein as he tries to create a companion. Gyllenhaal decided that the screen should physically grow taller whenever the story enters a dream or a moment of magic. To make this work her team had to invent a brand new way to animate the transitions between screen sizes. Usually these changes happen so fast that you barely notice them but in this movie the screen will actually appear to grow right before your eyes.
This project is a massive swing for the director who admitted she was a total beginner when it came to IMAX. By asking simple questions about why the screen has to stay one size she pushed the experts at IMAX to try something fresh. The film features an incredible cast including Penelope Cruz and Annette Bening and it has a gritty punk rock energy. It is a bold move to use such high-tech tools for a story that feels so raw and emotional.
The year 2026 is shaping up to be a historic time for fans of the big screen experience. While The Bride is breaking rules with its animated transitions, Christopher Nolan is also pushing limits with his next film The Odyssey. His movie will be the very first blockbuster shot entirely with IMAX cameras from start to finish. Between these two directors it is clear that the way we watch movies in theaters is about to change forever.
