A Life-Sized Squadron 42 Spaceship Has Appeared in Manchester – And Mark Hamill Was There Too

A spaceship, a Hollywood legend and one of gaming’s most anticipated releases might sound like the ingredients for a sci-fi blockbuster, but this particular spectacle took place in Manchester.

A life-sized Hornet spacecraft from the Star Citizen universe appeared at VERSA Studios Manchester for an exclusive Squadron 42 showcase, attended by none other than Star Wars icon Mark Hamill.

The actor, best known for playing Luke Skywalker in the legendary film franchise, also stars in Squadron 42, the upcoming cinematic space adventure from Cloud Imperium Games.

And he’s far from the only familiar face involved.

The ambitious single-player game also boasts a cast including Gary Oldman, Henry Cavill and Gillian Anderson, bringing some serious Hollywood credentials to the gaming world.

To celebrate the project, Cloud Imperium Games brought its impressive life-sized Hornet spacecraft to VERSA Studios, where gamers and streamers from around the world gathered for the exclusive event.

The showcase featured an immersive sci-fi environment created with the help of virtual production specialists Mars Volume, who constructed what organisers describe as Manchester’s largest-ever virtual production screen.

More than 40 people worked on the project, with VERSA Studios coordinating production services, crew, lighting, sound and other technical requirements.

The company also co-produced behind-the-scenes filming featuring interviews with the game’s creators.

Sandi Roberts, Co-Founder of Cloud Imperium Games, said: “We had a wonderful experience working with VERSA and its teams to bring our event to life.”

The event builds on an established partnership between the two companies, with Cloud Imperium Games also operating a permanent motion-capture studio at VERSA’s Manchester facilities.

Squadron 42, set in the same universe as Star Citizen, is currently expected to launch in 2027.

For fans eagerly awaiting its arrival, a full-sized spacecraft and an appearance from Luke Skywalker himself make for a pretty unforgettable preview of the world to come.