Barco, the leader in laser-powered cinema solutions, is expanding its highly-anticipated HDR by Barco premium format program internationally with the announcement of a new site in the United Kingdom, at Cineworld Leicester Square. The iconic theater is a regular host to global movie premieres and high-profile screenings. Together with Cineworld, Barco is enhancing the Superscreen auditorium at London’s famed Leicester Square cinema with HDR by Barco and a new Harkness Hugo Screen, beginning with the release of Paramount Picture’s “Gladiator II” on November 22. The move gives audiences outside of the U.S. a chance to experience the highly anticipated HDR by Barco format for the first time. Moviegoers in Los Angeles, New York, Dallas, Miami, and Kansas City will have the opportunity to see “Gladiator II” in HDR by Barco when it opens in U.S. theaters that week.

The news marks a notable expansion of Barco’s HDR by Barco 2024 exhibition, which brings the company’s groundbreaking High Dynamic Range (HDR) with patented Lightsteering technology for cinema to audiences for the first time. The program opened last month in five major U.S. markets, including Regal’s Dania Pointe location in Miami-Fort Lauderdale. The addition of the London cinema marks an evolution of Barco’s relationship with Regal and Cineworld.

“We’re thrilled to expand our partnership with Barco and introduce their revolutionary HDR technology to our Superscreen at Cineworld Leicester Square. As the first location outside of the U.S. to feature this cutting-edge format, we’re excited to offer London audiences an enhanced, brighter, and deeply immersive film experience, starting with the epic ‘Gladiator II,’” Javier Sotomayor, President of Cineworld International.

The international expansion of HDR by Barco into the UK gives more audiences the opportunity to experience the season’s biggest new releases in HDR by Barco. Based on the company’s unique Lightsteering technology, Barco’s approach to HDR works by strategically redistributing light on screen to produce highlights that are over 6x brighter than traditional projection, while retaining rich details in the darks for greater depth, clarity, and range. HDR by Barco delivers expansive creative possibilities for filmmakers, producing a wider colour gamut with high-contrast images that captivate audiences.

“It has been incredibly rewarding to witness the excitement surrounding HDR by Barco in the US, and we are excited to partner with Cineworld to introduce it to the UK. Leicester Square is one of London’s most iconic theaters, making it the perfect first international venue for HDR by Barco. We extend our gratitude to Paramount Pictures for their continued collaboration; ‘Gladiator II’ is a sweeping epic that truly shines in Barco’s HDR on the big screen, developed in line with the new DCI HDR specifications, allowing us to bring the creative vision of filmmakers to life in the best possible light,” said Gerwin Damberg, Executive Vice President, Cinema for Barco.

From legendary director Ridley Scott, “Gladiator II” continues the epic saga of power, intrigue, and vengeance set in Ancient Rome. Years after witnessing the death of the revered hero Maximus at the hands of his uncle, Lucius (Paul Mescal) is forced to enter the Colosseum after his home is conquered by the tyrannical Emperors who now lead Rome with an iron fist. With rage in his heart and the future of the Empire at stake, Lucius must look to his past to find strength and honor to return the glory of Rome to its people.

“Gladiator II” opens in HDR by Barco on November 22, 2024 in the U.K. and the U.S.

HDR by Barco is currently available in select premium screens in the US and UK:

For more information on HDR by Barco, visit: https://hdrbybarco.com/

About Barco
Barco, headquartered in Kortrijk (Belgium), is a global company leading in visualization, networking, and collaboration technology. Its innovative solutions drive advancements in the healthcare, enterprise, and entertainment markets. At the heart of Barco’s success are over 3,000 dedicated ‘visioneers’, each passionately contributing to driving change through Technology. Listed on Euronext (BAR), Reuters (BARBt.BR), and Bloomberg (BAR BB), Barco realized sales of 1,050 million euro in 2023. For further insights, please visit www.barco.com or connect on X, LinkedIn, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook. Barco. Visioneering a bright tomorrow.