Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial get IMAX re-releases, Jaws will also be in RealD 3D

Deadline is reporting that Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment are teaming up to bring the Steven Spielberg classics Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial back to the big screen this year – and they’re going to very big screens. The films will be playing on IMAX screens across the United States, and Jaws will also be in RealD 3D. The third film in the franchise isn’t the only 3D Jaws movie anymore.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which celebrates its 40th anniversary this year, will be getting its IMAX release on August 12th. Scripted by Melissa Mathison, that film has the following synopsis:

After a gentle alien becomes stranded on Earth, the being is discovered and befriended by a young boy named Elliott. Bringing the extraterrestrial into his suburban California house, Elliott introduces E.T., as the alien is dubbed, to his brother and his little sister, Gertie, and the children decide to keep its existence a secret. Soon, however, E.T. falls ill, resulting in government intervention and a dire situation for both Elliott and the alien.

Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace, Peter Coyote, and Robert MacNaughton star.

Jaws will follow E.T. to the screen on September 2nd. Based on a novel by Peter Benchley, Jaws has a screenplay credited to Benchley and Carl Gottlieb. The synopsis for that one goes like this:

When a young woman is killed by a shark while skinny-dipping near the New England tourist town of Amity Island, police chief Martin Brody wants to close the beaches, but mayor Larry Vaughn overrules him, fearing that the loss of tourist revenue will cripple the town. Ichthyologist Matt Hooper and grizzled ship captain Quint offer to help Brody capture the killer beast, and the trio engage in an epic battle of man vs. nature.

Jaws stars Roy Scheider, Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, Lorraine Gary, and Murray Hamilton.

Jim Orr, president of domestic theatrical distribution for Universal Pictures, had this to say about the re-release plans:

Universal is honored to have been a part of so many extraordinary, unforgettable Steven Spielberg films over the past 47 years, including Jaws in 1975, E.T. in 1982 and Jurassic Park in 1993. No filmmaker, it’s fair to say, has had a greater or more enduring impact on American cinema or has created more indelible cinematic memories for tens of billions of people worldwide. We couldn’t think of a more perfect way to celebrate the anniversary of E.T. and the first Universal-Spielberg summer blockbuster, Jaws, than to allow audiences to experience these films in a way they’ve never been able to before.”

Megan Colligan, President of IMAX Entertainment, added:

IMAX is thrilled to partner with Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment to offer audiences the opportunity to experience these two iconic films in IMAX for the very first time. Steven Spielberg redefined modern cinema and ushered in a new era of bold, swing-for-the-fences filmmaking, and the IMAX Experience has expanded around the world because of the trail blazed by films like E.T. and Jaws.”

And Travis Reid, CEO & President, Cinema, RealD, gave the following statement:

Jaws redefined what it means to be a summer-event blockbuster and now for the first time ever audiences can experience Steven Spielberg’s motion picture classic in 3D. Everything that made Jaws a sensation and a fan favorite for nearly 50 years will be enhanced in RealD 3D, allowing fans a completely new opportunity to immerse themselves in one of the greatest summer suspense thrillers of all time.”

Do you want to see Jaws and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial on IMAX screens? What do you think of Jaws getting a 3D conversion? Share your thoughts on this re-release news by leaving a comment below.