A PARTNERSHIP between the Hollywood giant Luscasfilm and a US virtual reality specialist has turned to York-based Continuum Attractions to operate its debut UK Star Wars experience in London.

Continuum Attractions has won the contract from American start-up The VOID to bring a Star Wars themed, hyper-reality experiences to the UK, opening in London next month.

Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire, is a hyper-reality experience produced by The VOID in collaboration with Lucasfilm, the Walt Disney company behind Star Wars, and ILMxLAB, which is Lucasfilm’s immersive entertainment division

Kevin Smith, group attractions director at Continuum Attractions, who recently travelled to The VOID headquarters in Utah to learn more about the project, said: “The guest experience will blow your mind.

“We expect guests to visit because they love the Star Wars brand and leave having experienced something absolutely brand new.

“This is an experience that everyone will be thrilled by. Forget virtual reality or even augmented reality, Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire opens up the new immersive world of hyper-reality with touch, sounds and smells.”

Continuum Attractions will operate the pop-up experience in its first location Westfield London and then onto Westfield, in Stratford City.

The VOID is simultaneously opening Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire in Disney Springs at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida.

Sarah Marsh, chief experience officer of The VOID said: “Continuum Attractions are our trusted operating partners for this exciting new adventure here in the UK.

“It has been a fast-paced design, build and development of the operation here in London, with a very short lead into the launch of tickets and opening date.

“Continuum Attractions was able to deliver this for us. There are now plans forming to take the attractions across Europe.”

Continuum Attractions, based in Margaret Street, previously operated the Emirates Cable Car in London, an exhibition for EMI, and helped develop The Crystal, a Siemens brand attraction in London’s Royal Docks. Elsewhere in the UK, Continuum Attractions works with ITV in operating both its Coronation Street and Emmerdale tours.