Cirque du Soleil Media, Samsung team for VR mobile experience

Bell Media’s Cirque du Soleil Media venture has jumped into the virtual reality arena.

The tie-up between Bell Media and the Quebec circus troupe is pacting with Samsung to develop an 8- to 10-minute live action VR experience that will immerse Galaxy S6 and S6 edge smartphone users in Cirque’s touring show Kurios-Cabinet of Curiosities.

Cirque du Soleil Media is partnering with Montreal-based Felix & Paul Studio, which produces cinematic VR experiences, to produce the Samsung content. Felix & Paul recently showcased their VR work at Sundance in the New Frontiers sidebar.

To experience the Cirque du Soleil content, Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge users will need to don Samsung’s wearable VR headset that now works with the phone maker’s flagship devices, powered by Oculus.

The Samsung collaboration was unveiled Monday by Jacques Méthé, president of Cirque du Soleil Média, and Stéphane Rituit, co-founder and producer at Felix & Paul Studios.

The VR content deal is also part of a bid by Cirque du Soleil Media to team up with entertainment players like marblemedia, Saban Brands and 20th Century Fox Television Fox to go beyond Cirque du Soleil live shows and yet still draw on the circus troupe’s creative vision.