Last year, "Twilight" shocked skeptics by opening at the top of the box office and breaking records. This year, "New Moon" opened even bigger and has already earned a half-billion dollars worldwide, becoming the most sizeable hit of the year. But just as it seems that the phenomenon can't get any bigger, next year's "Eclipse" has a major announcement that promises to make it the biggest "Twilight" film yet — literally.

The IMAX Corporation and Summit Entertainment have announced that the third film in the franchise based on Stephenie Meyer's novels, "Eclipse," will be the first released in the enormous-screen format typically reserved for such blockbusters as "The Dark Knight" and "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen."

" 'Twilight' moviegoers will have a whole new way to experience this next installment of the series," explained Richie Fay, Summit Entertainment's president of domestic theatrical distribution, in a statement. "['Eclipse' will feature] the enhanced image and sound quality of the IMAX Experience, putting them in the movie. The IMAX release puts us on the event film calendar for 2010, and we're very excited to work with IMAX to bring a new kind of film to the IMAX theater network."

"Eclipse" is considered by many Twilighters to be the most action-packed novel in Meyer's saga, and stars Jackson Rathbone, Ashley Greene and Kellan Lutz have spoken extensively in past months about their intense training to capture horseback riding, fight scenes and other sequences in the recently wrapped film. The movie is being directed by "30 Days of Night" filmmaker David Slade, which would also seem to bring an extra element of blood, carnage and IMAX-friendly action to the third installment in the tale of Edward Cullen and Bella Swan.

"We're very excited to work with our new partners at Summit Entertainment to transport the very loyal and enthusiastic 'Twilight' fans into the world of the Volturi via the IMAX Experience," said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment, in the statement. "With our growing theater network, we're poised to take advantage of the rapidly growing fanbase devoted to this dynamic, cutting-edge series."

"Eclipse" will be digitally remastered into the image and sound quality appropriate for IMAX's extra-large, geometrically enhanced movie screens across the nation, using the company's proprietary IMAX DMR technology. The film is scheduled to be released on IMAX screens on June 30, 2010 — the same day it will premiere in traditional movie theaters.

Check out everything we've got on "The Twilight Saga: New Moon."

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