MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Co has forged a five-movie deal with Imax Corp. The first project to hit the Imax "ultra-big screen theaters" will be A Christmas Carol, adaption of the Charles Dickens' story, in 3D format.

Starring Jim Carrey and directed by Robert Zemeckis, the movie is slated to release on 6 November 2009.

The announcement was made by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Group president Mark Zoradi. The upcoming films from the Studio will see a roster of filmmakers that may include director Tim Burton as well as producer Jerry Bruckheimer, the company said in a release. Disney has not announced what the other four titles will be.

Zoradi said, "We can't think of a better way to launch than with Robert Zemeckis' new approach to the Dickens' classic, A Christmas Carol. Following that, we have a slate of new Disney Digital 3D motion pictures from some of the industry's most accomplished and innovative filmmakers. Audiences are going to love being immersed in these great fantasies and adventures in IMAX's format."

"Entering into a five-picture agreement with Walt Disney Studios helps us ensure that our network has an outstanding slate of movies going forward," said Imax co-chairmen and co-CEOs Richard L Gelfond and Bradley J Wechsler.

As of September, Imax had 320 theatres worldwide and aims to have up to 50 converted to digital technology by the end of the year.