Hollywood star Tom Hanks is inviting audiences to take an immersive journey to the moon in a new immersive audio-visual show in King's Cross.
The actor, who played Jim Lovell in the hit film Apollo 13, has co-written and narrates The Moonwalkers, which tells the stories of NASA's moon missions using breathtaking original footage, and interviews with astronauts.
It premieres at Lightroom, the London venue in Lewis Cubitt Square which opened in February with a show about David Hockney.
Organisers say the "epic experience" will reflect the gripping journey of the Apollo moon missions on a spectacular scale. Ticketholders will be surrounded by giant screens in the vast space, as they take an immersive journey to the lunar surface.
Hanks has a lifelong passion for space and served on the Board of Governors of the National Space Society as well as producing the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon.
He said: "Growing up as humankind was first going to the moon, I was transfixed by the Apollo missions and dreamed of making the voyages with the astronauts.
"I’ve worked on several projects that have attempted to bring alive the breathtaking scale of going to the moon and the razor-edge drama of each journey, each chapter of Apollo.
"The extraordinary and unique production capabilities of Lightroom allow me, alongside Christopher Riley, to tell what we believe is the most visceral and enthralling story to date of humanity’s journeys beyond our earth, including a unique insight into the next time human beings will walk on the moon: the Artemis missions."
As well as using images from Andy Saunders’ Apollo Remastered and an original orchestral score by Anne Nitkin, the film looks ahead to the return of crewed surface missions to the moon with Hanks interviewing astronauts on the current Artemis programme.
It is directed and designed by 59 Productions, the team behind Lightroom’s David Hockney show.
Lightroom CEO and Producer of The Moonwalkers, Richard Slaney, said: “Lightroom’s mission is to create new kinds of experiences with the world’s greatest creative voices, using groundbreaking technology.
"Tom Hanks is an icon, with unparalleled experience of great cinematic storytelling, and has a true passion and expertise for the history of space exploration.
"Alongside a world-class international creative team, he’s the perfect person to bring to life the Apollo and Artemis missions as never before. It seems timely to be telling this story now as countries from across the world launch missions to understand more about our closest celestial neighbour."
The Moonwalkers opens on December 6 at Lightroom. Tickets are on sale now.
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