U2 3D is heading for cinemas later this year - and a preview airs in US cinemas this week.

The feature length film, shot during U2's visit to South America on the Vertigo Tour, is directed by Catherine Owens, with additional direction from Mark Pellington. The movie will arrive in specialist 3D cinemas in the autumn and a trailer has just begun airing alongside the only other 3D film to come out this year, Disney's 'Meet The Robinsons'.

Owens, longtime collaborator with U2 on live-show visuals, says 'this was the ultimate challenge in presenting U2'. But the results, she predicts, will startle audiences.

'There is no comparison with a traditional concert film seen in 2D. One minute you are on stage with the band and the next you are at the back of the stadium. 'The best way I can describe it for the viewer,' she adds, 'Is that it's like being on the wings of a bird flying around the concert stadium - it's really something else.'

As the web is not yet in 3D, our 30-second clip has one dimension less - that's plain old 2D.

Watch it here

The 3D shoot took place over seven shows in Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina in February last year and the film is being produced by 3ality Digital in Los Angeles, edited by Olivier Wicki with music produced by Carl Glanville, who has a long list of U2 production credits. Director of 3D photography was Peter Anderson and the Director of photography was Tom Krueger.