Sony Pictures Home Entertainment plans to debut a new scene from its upcoming action adventure “The Amazing Spider-Man” not on the Internet, but rather on television screens in physical Wal-Mart stores across the country.
At four designated times of the day — 12:01 a.m., 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. — on June 15 and 16, all of the electronics department television sets in Wal-Mart’s 3,600 U.S. stores will play a previously unreleased scene from the theatrical film. To encourage in-store viewing, Sony does not plan to release the footage online.
Sony and Wal-Mart’s promotional efforts are designed to generate excitement for both “The Amazing Spider-Man,” director Marc Webb’s take on the famed Marvel Comics superhero, as well as the over a thousand “Spider-Man” licensed products being sold at Wal-Mart. Mr. Webb’s film comes only five year after the final installment of director Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” reboot and features “The Social Network” star Andrew Garfield as the titular web-slinger.
In addition to the in-store footage, Wal-Mart, Sony and Marvel Entertainment said Thursday the three companies were partnering on a number of other interactive events, such as the introduction of a new “Web-Slinger” app for mobile devices.
“We know our customers are huge fans of ‘Spider-Man’ and we wanted to give them access to the film in a new way,” said Brent Duwe, Wal-Mart’s director of entertainment property merchandise. “We really wanted to engage the fans.”
The free Web-Slinger app is key to many of the promotional events being launched around the country. For instance, it works in concert with Wal-Mart, Sony and Marvel’s on-going truck tour to 1,000 physical stores around the country. When users aim their app, which includes a camera mode, at the “Spider-Man” branded trucks, they’ll be able to see an “augmented” version of a fight scene on their mobile screens.
The app will also unlock special features if pointed at a reprint of the sixth issue of “The Amazing Spider-Man” Marvel comic book, available for sale for $2.96. (The issue introduced villain the Lizard, played by Rhys Ifans in movie, for the first time.) Like the branded trucks, readers will be able to see exclusive footage and other promotional material if they point the app at special icons in the comic book.
“It’s a new approach,” says Mr. Duwe. “In general, we typically don’t do campaigns of this size and caliber.”
I for one am very mad i live in canada right now, what do you americans think? leave a comment in the below area