Disney has announced that the upcoming Tron sequel, Tron Legacy, will debut in IMAX and IMAX 3D theaters the same day as the movie's worldwide release (surprise), December 17, 2010. That means that you can see the crazy sort of CGI light cycle races and battles (which impressed most everyone I know who watched the Tron Legacy first trailer) in full IMAX 3D glory!

Now in about 98% of cases, I'm don't go for the IMAX and/or 3D marketing gimmick option (ticket prices in my town are high enough as is - $12-13!), but Tron Legacy (so far) looks to be that rare 2% instance where I'm going to be reaching into my wallet for that extra $10. Said Mark Zoradi, president of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group:

This is an ideal movie for IMAX's immersive format...'Tron Legacy' already packs a punch in Disney Digital 3D, and to give audiences the option to experience the enhanced premium IMAX 3D version is a real treat. We're particularly excited to reach a much wider audience now that the IMAX network is expanding with its digital locations.

Yeah, I'm sure he's more concerned with our "enhanced premium experience" more than he is with quietly dancing a jig of joy, thinking about all those new IMAX theaters that are going to help vacuum the FAT wads of cash right out of pockets like mine. As I said in the opening, Tron Legacy, like James Cameron's upcoming IMAX 3D film Avatar, is going to be more than just another film to see - it's going to be a movie going experience.

Tron Legacy Poster

Now, I was lured by the pretty picture of a trailer, but up until this point I haven't really known all that much about the plot of Tron Legacy, and how this sequel links to the 1982 original (except that Jeff Bridges is in both). So if you, like me, want to know more about the plot of Tron Legacy, here's a quick synopsis:

Sam Flynn (Garrett Hedlund), the tech-savvy 27-year-old son of Kevin Flynn (Jeff Bridges), looks into his father's disappearance and finds himself pulled into the digital world of Tron where his father has been living for 25 years. Along with Kevin's loyal confidant Quorra (Olivia Wilde), father and son embark on a life-and-death journey of escape across a visually-stunning cyber universe that has become far more advanced and exceedingly dangerous.

Cool. Sounds like a good concept for a sci-fi adventure epic with a dash of family film tenderness. Can't wait.

Tron Legacy is being helmed by relative newcomer Joseph Kosinski and was written by Lisberger, Richard Jeffries, Brian Klugman, Lee Stemthal, Eddy Kitsis, Adam Horowitz, and Bill Wheeler (that's a lot of pens). As stated, the film hits theaters (regular, 3D and IMAX 3D) on December 17, 2010.

Source: Coming Soon