Sphere Entertainment Co. announced today a one-of-a-kind cinematic experience to be shown exclusively at Sphere. V-U2 An Immersive Concert Film at Sphere Las Vegas, directed by Morleigh Steinberg and The Edge, showcases the history-making and future-defining U2:UV show directed by Willie Williams that played to over 700,000 fans from 100+ countries across 40 sold-out dates from September 2023 through March 2024. V-U2 is the first film ever to be shot entirely with Big Sky, the groundbreaking ultra-high-resolution camera system developed by Sphere Entertainment. V-U2 does not just capture U2’s epic run at Sphere, it allows audiences to feel like they are at the live shows.
V-U2 is a Sphere Experience, Sphere’s signature original content category. To create this larger-than-life concert film, a number of Big Sky cameras captured the band at extraordinary scale, sharpness, and clarity. V-U2 employs Sphere’s immersive technologies including the 160,000 sq. ft. display plane, which at 16k x 16k resolution is the world’s highest-resolution LED screen; Sphere Immersive Sound, powered by HOLOPLOT, which provides crystal-clear sound to every seat in Sphere; and haptic seats, which use vibrations so guests can ‘feel’ the experience. All of these technologies, which were used to great effect in ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live at Sphere,’ will be leveraged in this Sphere Experience in new and different ways to reinforce the feeling of ‘being there’.
Launching a venue like Sphere challenged the band to create a once-in-a-lifetime audio/visual concert experience and the same standards were upheld for the film. Co-directors The Edge and Morleigh Steinberg spoke about the filmmaking process:
“The goal was to give the immersive movie goers as close to the live U2:UV concert experience as possible — and then some. I’ve never seen a U2 show. I’m so relieved I caught a great one,” said The Edge.
“We knew all the tremendous capabilities of the technology, but we didn’t know what to expect from the process of making this film. The work became a true collaboration between band, artists, producers, and technology teams. The end result is a cinematic experience that transports viewers into the energy and beauty of the live show,” said Morleigh Steinberg.
“V-U2 is a first-of-its-kind immersive film that will transport audiences back to U2’s groundbreaking live Sphere shows and make them feel like they are there,” said Josephine Vaccarello, Executive Vice President, Live, MSG Entertainment, who oversees live bookings for Sphere. “This concert film was created specifically for Sphere, and will utilize the venue’s technologies to create an experience that is only possible at this next-generation entertainment medium.”
V-U2 immortalizes the acclaimed ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’ show directed by Willie Williams. The film of the show was directed by The Edge and Morleigh Steinberg and was produced by The Edge, Bono and Adam Clayton, along with producer Alan Moloney, in a unique collaboration with Sphere Entertainment. Stefaan “Smasher” Desmedt, video director of the original show, also served as Associate Director of the film. Music production was by Jacknife Lee and Joe O’Herlihy, the band’s longtime director of sound. Sphere Studios’ Andrew Shulkind served as Director of Photography and the film was edited by the Studios’ Robert Rivers Malina. U2’s management is led by Irving and Jeffrey Azoff, both Executive Producers of the film. Jim Dolan is Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sphere Entertainment; Jennifer Koester serves as Sphere’s President and Chief Operating Officer; Carolyn Blackwood is Head of Sphere Studios; and Josephine Vaccarello is Executive Vice President, Live for MSG Entertainment’s Live division, and oversees live bookings for Sphere.
A global news event which saw the world’s biggest rock band open the world’s most state-of-the-art venue, ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’ quickly became a pop culture moment and a must-see for music lovers everywhere. The show’s stunning visuals and live music performance, combined with the venue’s immersive technology elements, including the world’s most advanced audio system, became an instant social media sensation as hundreds of thousands of fans shared their U2:UV experience across multiple platforms generating billions of impressions, making U2:UV a truly global phenomenon. One of the band’s most ambitious creative projects to date, it saw them work once again with longtime creative collaborator and show director Willie Williams, artists including Es Devlin, John Gerrard and Marco Brambilla, and longtime partner and producer Brian Eno.
Acknowledged as the most innovative live act in the world, U2 have always – since their earliest days, including the industry-defining ZOO TV Tour which broke the mold in 1992 – consistently pushed the boundaries of live performance, with ground-breaking stage shows that embrace the latest in technology and innovation. ‘U2:UV Achtung Baby Live At Sphere’ saw the band blaze a trail yet again, with fans, press and industry leaders hailing the run, and the venue, as the future of live entertainment.
V-U2 will open at Sphere on Thursday, September 5, 2024. U2.com subscribers have first access to presale tickets from Thursday, August 22 at 10:00AM PT through Friday, August 23 at 9:00AM PT via Ticketmaster.com. Sphere will also offer an exclusive presale to its Inner Circle subscribers from Thursday, August 22 at Noon PT through Friday, August 23 at 9:00AM PT via Ticketmaster.com. Join Sphere’s Inner Circle by clicking here. Tickets will be available for purchase by the general public beginning on Friday, August 23 at 10:00AM PT via Ticketmaster.com. Tickets start at $100 and will reflect all-in pricing. This means the ticket price listed is the full out-of-pocket price inclusive of taxes and fees.
