Johnny Depp thriller "Transcendence" to open Apr 18 in U.S., China

PanARMENIAN.Net - Upcoming Johnny Depp-starring sci-fi thriller Transcendence will open in China as a day-and-date release with the United States on April 18 -- and China will be the only territory where the film will be screened in 3D, the Beijing-based studio DMG, co-producers of the film with Alcon Entertainment and Warner Bros., told The Hollywood Reporter, the entertainment news agency said.

The movie will show in 2D, 3D, Imax and Dmax on an as-yet-unspecified number of screens in the world's number two movie market.

The simultaneous release in China is a significant coup for the producers and distributors, since Hollywood imports to the territory are often hurt by delayed scheduling. Marvel Disney's Iron Man 3, also a co-production with DMG, opened in China in advance of North American in 2013 -- it became the highest grossing Hollywood film of the year in China with $125 million. Depp is slated to arrive in Beijing on March 31 for a two-day press blitz. His visit is being arranged by DMG.

DMG is also distributing the film in China and handling its local marketing. Transcendence stars Depp as a terminally ill scientist who downloads his mind into a computer, gaining powers beyond his wildest dreams.

The film is said to explore the perhaps not-too-distant moment when computer intelligence surpasses the power of the human mind. It co-stars Rebecca Hall, Morgan Freeman, Kate Mara and Paul Bettany.