Lips Roll Out Christmas Film At 'Custom-designed' Theatre

Rockers THE FLAMING LIPS have taken over a New York theatre to launch their much-anticipated festive film CHRISTMAS ON MARS - and they'll be putting on breakfast screenings at 7am and 9am.

The movie, which features the band and famous friends like Elijah Wood, will debut at a custom-designed 'cinema' at the KGB Complex on 12 September (08) before going nationwide across America.

By Christmas (08), the band hopes to have screened the movie, with the alternative title A Fantastical Film Freakout Featuring the Flaming Lips, in offbeat venues in "at least 15 cities, and probably many more."

The Lips have created a "high-definition video and a custom-designed Zeta Bootis Mega Supersonic Super-Sound Surround System" for the film's New York debut.

And show times will include 7am and 9am screenings, so "audience members can go to Mars before they get to work."

Christmas On Mars marks the directorial debut of Lips frontman Wayne Coyne. Coyne also constructed much of the film's set - representing Mars - in his Oklahoma City backyard.

The oddball film has been in production since 2001.