'Batman Begins' Opening Includes IMAX Screens

When Batman begins anew in June, he's coming back big -- as in IMAX big.

Warner Bros. studio announced Tuesday that, in addition to its conventional 35mm theatrical engagement June 17, "Batman Begins" will open on IMAX screens nationwide the same day.

"Moviegoers love to experience our event movies in IMAX theatres and filmmakers rave about how their work appears on the IMAX canvas," said Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution at Warner Bros. Pictures in a statement. "We're excited to make our eighth film commitment to IMAX with "Batman Begins: The IMAX Experience."

Previous Warner/IMAX releases include films from the "Matrix" and "Harry Potter" series, and most recently, "The Polar Express," which was presented in 3D.

"Batman Begins" finds industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) traveling the world to find the means to fight injustice in the wake of his parent's murder. He returns to Gotham city with the alter ego of Batman, the caped crusader who uses his strength, intellect and high tech deceptions to fight the forces of evil in the city.

The film co-stars Michael Caine as Wayne/Batman's trusted butler, Alfred; Liam Neeson as Wayne's mentor; Katie Holmes as Wayne's childhood friend, Rachel Dawes; Gary Oldman as Lt. James Gordon; Cillian Murphy as Dr. Jonathan Crane; Ken Watanabe as the villain Ra's Al Ghul; and "Million Dollar Baby" Oscar-winner Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox.

The film's director is Christopher Nolan, who wrote and directed the acclaimed hit "Memento."

"Batman Begins" is the first of two DC Superheroes coming back to the big screen under the auspices of Warner Bros. "Superman Returns" is scheduled for a June 2006 release.