Augmented reality (AR) startup Magic Leap has announced a strategic relationship with Lucasfilm, promising to deliver a “legacy of exploration and leadership” on the new platform for experiential storytelling.

Differing from market competitors in AR, such as Microsoft’s Hololens, which uses a stereoscopic technique to create the illusion of a three-dimensional image, Magic Leap’s device uses its alternate mixed-reality lightfield to create a world where digital and physical seamlessly blend together.

The two companies released a proof-of-concept video, demonstrating Magic Leap’s technology using a Lucasfilm-produced Star Wars scene, using the AR technology to bring C3P0 and R2D2 into a real-world environment.



The two companies announced they will open a joint research lab this month at the Lucasfilm San Francisco campus, combining their talents to create never-before-seen pioneering storytelling experiences in a mixed reality world.

“Lucasfilm has created some of the most iconic characters of our time. Ones that dare us to dream, unlock our imagination and excite us to go on a journey with them,” said Magic Leap founder, president and CEO Rony Abovitz.

“Magic Leap is creating a whole new medium: mixed-reality lightfields, designed to harness the power of your imagination and take you to places you never thought possible. Collaboration between our two companies is a perfect fit, and I can't wait to share the results with the world.”