It’s not uncommon for sci-fi or fantasy films to use real-world locations as set pieces for stories. However, we are happy to see an example of this phenomenon with automotive connections. In episode 4 Star Wars series AndorMcLaren Technology Center stands for the terminal at Coruscant Spaceport.
The tweet below has the perfect location comparison. The curved glass walls are the most notable similarity, but there are several other parallels. Pillars with thicker elements like donuts on top are also the same. The designers turned the balcony to the left of the McLaren image into a display of arrivals and departures in the world of Star Wars.
Motor1.com contacted McLaren about the Andor copy location, and apparently, it was a shock to the company. “Thanks for getting in touch – we didn’t really think we were involved in this,” a press representative told us.
Even if no one from the Andor production team actually visited the McLaren Tech Center to make this setpiece, plenty of photos are available to them for inspiration. The gallery below offers panoramic views into the building.
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In 2021, McLaren signed a lease back agreement for the head office. The deal with American firm Global Net Lease reportedly secures the automaker £170 million in funding. McLaren allegedly agreed to pay money back for 20 years.
Star Wars has a long history of using real-world things as inspiration for designs in galaxies very far away. The tweet above even shows another example from the same Andor episode.
Another example of this creative reinterpretation occurs in Boba Fett .’s book series. This garnered quite a bit of discussion (and some derision). Floating bikes in the style of 1960s Vespa and Lambretta scooters chase vehicles with cues from a variety of full-sized American cars from the same era.
It Andor the series is a prequel to the film Rogue One: The Story of Star Wars. The main protagonist is the character Cassian Andor who becomes a key part of the growing rebellion against Darth Vader and the Galactic Empire. Currently, the series is supposed to run 24 episodes in two, 12 episode seasons.
