Mary Pickford Theater to premiere new immersive screen next week with release of 'Furiosa'

Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City is the first theater in the Coachella Valley to install a new immersive screen that will premiere on May 24 with the film “Furiosa.”

ScreenX is a type of screen that extends onto the sides in order to create a 270-degree panoramic viewing of movies, according to the theater. The auditorium with ScreenX will have a 50-foot-wide screen and reclining seats.

Mary Pickford Theater will be one of about 35 theaters in the United States with ScreenX so far, according to General Manager Ted Hane.

Damon Rubio, president of D’Place Entertainment, joined Mayor Mark Carnevale to discuss the new screen during Cathedral City’s State of the City, Business Awards and Business Expo event on May 14. The event is held annually for the city to share updates in the community, celebrate local businesses and other city-related news.

“It's a fully immersive image that's completely all around you while you're in the auditorium,” Rubio said. “So essentially, the front screen where all the action is and then the two side walls, the entire wall becomes (an) additional screen. It's just an amazing experience.”

Don Savant, president and CEO of CJ 4DPLEX America, said in a press release that the company is excited to join forces with D’Place Entertainment to launch their first ScreenX auditorium. CJ 4DPLEX America produces cinema technology and D'Place Entertainment manages Mary Pickford Theater.

“Together, we're reshaping the future of moviegoing, and we can't wait for audiences to experience the magic of ScreenX at the Mary Pickford Theatre,” Savant said.

Other new films guests will be able to watch in the ScreenX auditorium are "Despicable Me 4," "Twisters" and "Deadpool & Wolverine."

Ani Gasparyan covers the western Coachella Valley cities of Desert Hot Springs and Cathedral City. Reach her at ani.gasparyan@desertsun.com.