MUMBAI: Real D has teamed up with Odeon and UCI to bring 3D cinema to Spain and Italy, with expansion in UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria and Portugal.

In its largest international distribution partnership to date, Real D has finalized an agreement with Odeon and UCI, the largest pan-European cinema exhibitor with more than 1600 screens, to install up to 500 Real D 3D cinema systems in theaters across Europe.

The rollout begins immediately and continues over the next two years as digital cinema systems are deployed, bringing Real D 3D technology to new markets such as Spain and Italy while increasing Real D’s hold in the UK, Ireland, Germany, Austria, and Portugal.

Almost a third of Odeon and UCI’s cinema circuit will eventually be Real D enabled, bringing next-generation 3D cinema to millions of film fans. Some of these systems will be available in time for the release of the Warner Brothers and Robert Zemeckis film Beowulf in November and for the annual re-release of Tim Burton’s Disney classic The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D .

ODEON and UCI Digital Development, Executive Vice President, Drew Kaza said, “We’ve conducted extensive audience research about the digital experience and made a commitment to cinemagoers to provide state-of-the-art technologies. Real D’s groundbreaking 3D systems will offer Odeon and UCI audiences a truly unique cinematic experience.”