'Dark Knight' headed back to IMAX theaters

LOS ANGELES, Jan. 22 (UPI) -- Hollywood's acclaimed Batman adventure, "The Dark Knight," is being re-released into more than 100 IMAX theaters, said IMAX Corp. and Warner Bros.

Late Australian actor Heath Ledger was nominated for the best supporting actor Oscar for his portrayal of the villainous Joker in "The Dark Knight." Oscar nominations were announced Thursday, the first anniversary of Ledger's death from an accidental prescription drug overdose at the age of 28.

Ledger's second-to-last film has grossed more than $997 million worldwide since its release July 18. It is now on DVD.

Starting Friday, the film is to re-open on 143 IMAX screens domestically, and 29 screens internationally.

"The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience" features six sequences filmed with IMAX cameras, which marks the first time a major feature film has been even partially shot using large-format IMAX cameras, the companies said.

"'The Dark Knight' is a crowning achievement in every sense of the word," Dan Fellman, president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures, said in a statement. "We want to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen. We're also very excited to give more fans in new markets an opportunity to experience the film in this special way, thanks to the continued rapid growth of the IMAX theater network."