James Dolan and David Zaslav Make Brief Cameos in Sphere’s ‘Wizard of Oz’ Experience

James Dolan, CEO of Sphere Entertainment, revealed a surprising Easter egg during the opening preview of the immersive ‘Wizard of Oz’ experience at Las Vegas’ Sphere. Along with Sphere’s president Jennifer Koester and visual effects expert Ben Grossmann, Dolan shared that the faces of two brief, uncredited characters in the classic 1939 film had been replaced with his own and Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav’s faces using AI technology. This change lasts only for two seconds and serves as a fun hidden addition to the show. Grossmann explained how the use of AI helps preserve the original integrity of the movie, ensuring that missing details from the film are filled with high accuracy, even replicating tiny details like Judy Garland’s eyelashes. The immersive film includes wind, lightning, and other sensory experiences to make the audience feel as if they’re part of the adventure. While some have criticized AI’s involvement in remastering the film, Grossmann emphasized that the technology used is aimed at maintaining the authenticity of the original performances. The project also employed over 1,000 artists and nearly doubled its initial budget, nearing $100 million in costs. Despite some controversy, Dolan expressed confidence in the final product, which will continue to be shown at Sphere venues globally.