Want to hang out with “Insurgent” stars Miles Teller, Kate Winslet and Mekhi Phifer for four minutes? Well now fans can, at least virtually.
Lionsgate and Samsung Electronics America, Inc. have teamed up to create virtual reality (VR) experience “Insurgent – Shatter Reality,” the two companies said on Wednesday.
The four-minute, fully-immersive, 360-degree narrative experience is set in the world of the upcoming feature film “Insurgent,” from the Divergent Series, featuring the three aforementioned stars. The Samsung Gear VR tour kicks off Feb. 27 in New York City, followed by stops in Chicago, Los Angeles, Austin and San Francisco prior to going live across all platforms and app stores. The experience will also be available on Samsung’s Milk VR service through Mar. 1 prior to going live across all platforms and app stores, the company said.
Consumers will join the members of “Divergent” society who have been captured by Jeanine Matthews (Winslet) and her Erudite faction, and are subjected to a series of mental ”simulations” in order to determine the full extent of their divergence. As the VR technology simulates Jeanine and her faction cohorts testing their captives with experimental serums, they experience two distinct, intensely gripping and realistic fearscapes, transporting them from the upper levels of a crumbling Chicago skyscraper to a massive, fast-approaching locomotive.
“Virtual reality elevates the world of ‘Divergent’ to a whole new level by creating a uniquely exciting and immersive experience for our fans,” said Lionsgate Chief Marketing Officer Tim Palen. “The ‘Insurgent – Shatter Reality’ experience reflects our commitment to partner with leading technology companies like Samsung to remain at the cutting edge of VR and other innovations that expand the worlds of our franchises and extend our storytelling in exciting new directions.”
“As we push new boundaries in the world of technology and virtual reality, we are excited to continue our relationship with Lionsgate and bring ‘Divergent’ fans a one-of-a-kind experience through Gear VR and Milk VR,” added Nick DiCarlo, vice president and general manager, Immersive Products & Virtual Reality at Samsung Electronics America. “This partnership will bring fans closer than ever to the action in this blockbuster series.”
The experience was created by Kite & Lightning with assistance from the film’s VFX team. It was built using stereoscopic 4K video of the actors, with effects and environment built in Unreal Engine 4 and then rendered into an immersive 3D/360-degree experience. It was scored by The Divergent Series: “Insurgent” composer Joe Trapanese.
“Insurgent,” the second installment of the Divergent franchise, will be released in theaters worldwide on Mar. 20.