Transformers 2, Y: The Last Man and possibly Iron Man 2 to be partially shot with IMAX cameras

According to a report on Variety, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen and Y: The Last Man, are looking to shoot footage using IMAX cameras. Transformers director Michael Bay has already shot three scenes for the upcoming sequel with the 70mm IMAX camera, meaning those segments will not need to be enlarged, in order to be shown on the gigantic screens. DJ Caruso (Eagle Eye, Disturbia) also said he intends to use an IMAX camera for Y: The Last Man (based on the comic by Brian Vaughan) and Jon Favreau has been considering its use for Iron Man 2 as well.

This comes on the heels of success for The Dark Knight, where director Christopher Nolan used the specialty cameras to film six scenes in the film, including the bank heist opening. While using IMAX cameras costs studios more for film processing, it increases attendance at IMAX screenings, which cost the public more. The Transformers sequel hits traditional and IMAX theaters on June 26, 2009. Y: The Last Man and Iron Man 2 are both due in theaters during the summer of 2010.

Below is the official press release regarding Michael Bay’s use of IMAX cameras for Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen.

IMAX, DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures today announced that director Michael Bay will shoot key sequences of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen with IMAX cameras. Bay will integrate the IMAX footage with state of the art CGI to create an unprecedented look and feel for the highly anticipated sequel to last year’s box office hit, Transformers. As previously announced, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen will be released to IMAX theaters simultaneously with the movie’s wide release on June 26, 2009.

The movie sequences shot in traditional 35mm will be digitally re-mastered into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience with IMAX DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The IMAX DMR scenes will appear in the traditional “letterbox” shape, while scenes shot with IMAX’s cameras will expand vertically to fill the entire IMAX screen.

“The extraordinary level of detail and intensity captured by the IMAX camera creates many exciting possibilities for us with this film,” said Michael Bay, the film’s director. “IMAX’s all-encompassing format will take this story to a new level, and I am once again very excited to share The IMAX Experience with Transformers fans around the world.”

“The addition of another amazing title from DreamWorks and Paramount, combined with more groundbreaking use of IMAX technology by Hollywood’s top filmmakers, are examples of how far we have come as a company and a distribution platform over the past several years,” said IMAX Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Richard L. Gelfond and Bradley J. Wechsler. “The growth of the IMAX theatre network, fueled by the economical benefits of the new IMAX digital system, is driving interest from virtually all of the top studios, which is resulting in more IMAX movies for audiences to enjoy.”

“Michael Bay’s innovative use of IMAX cameras will create a spectacular cinematic adventure for moviegoers next summer,” added Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “We’re very excited to be integrated as a core part of the Transformers production, and with the skilled marketing and distribution teams at DreamWorks and Paramount, the timing is ideal given our expanding global audience and network footprint.”

DreamWorks Pictures and Paramount Pictures Present In Association with Hasbro A di Bonaventura Pictures Production A Tom DeSanto/Don Murphy Production A Michael Bay Film Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen starring Shia LaBeouf, Megan Fox, Josh Duhamel, Tyrese Gibson, Kevin Dunn, Julie White, John Benjamin Hickey, Ramon Rodriguez, Isabel Lucas and John Turturro. The film is directed by Michael Bay from a screenplay by Ehren Kruger, Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman. The producers are Don Murphy, Tom DeSanto, Lorenzo di Bonaventura and Ian Bryce. The executive producers are Steven Spielberg, Michael Bay, Brian Goldner and Mark Vahradian. Based on Hasbro’s Transformers Action Figures.