A Canadian film distributor has had some exciting news in the few weeks before the summer season blockbusters start.

Ciniplex and Imax have partnered up in a deal that will see the film giants acquire three new digital Imax systems and upgrade seven of its already existing Imax theatres to digital projection. The three new cinemas that are being built are expected to open in the autumn this year. The number of Imax theatres that Ciniplex own will go up to 12 after this development.

Ciniplex said that these latest cinema buys come ahead of the July releases of Transformers 3 and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; just two of the main 3D films that are expected to take this summer’s box office by storm.

A statement that was released read as follows:

“Our IMAX theatres have always been very well received by our theatre guests,” said Ellis Jacob, President and CEO, Cineplex Entertainment. “We are pleased to extend the premium IMAX Experience® to new audiences in Southern Ontario and Winnipeg, and to upgrade seven of our existing IMAX projection systems to digital, bringing our total IMAX locations to 12.”

“We are happy to enter into this expanded deal with Cineplex, which has been a long-standing and successful exhibitor partner for IMAX in Canada,” said Richard L. Gelfond, CEO of IMAX Corporation. “We are particularly pleased that two of the new Cineplex IMAX locations will open in time to benefit from the exciting slate of summer blockbusters scheduled to be released in the IMAX format, such as the July releases of Transformers: Dark of the Moon: An IMAX® 3D Experience and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2: An IMAX® 3D Experience.”