A new Star Wars-themed experience is to open at Madame Tussauds London in May, the popular attraction announced today (Tuesday).

The multi-million pound immersive experience will feature 16 wax-figure characters, including Princess Leia, Jabba the Hutt and Obi-Wan Kenobi, plus a number of walk-in sets to authentically portray some of the franchise’s most famous moments.

At Star Wars at Madame Tussauds, guests will be able to "get close to their film heroes, star alongside them and grab a selfie in specially recreated scenes of some of their favourite movie moments," said Ben Sweet, Madame Tussauds London's general manager.

The Merlin-operated attraction has worked alongside Disney, the IP owner, and Lucasfilm in meticulously recreating the characters, costumes and scenery. The move comes shortly after Disney CEO Bob Iger announced the Star Wars franchise would play a much more prominent role in his company's parks, as the buzz continues to grow ahead of J.J. Abrams forthcoming Star Wars movie, due out in December 2015.

At Madame Tussauds, visitors will be invited to join Yoda in his swamps on Dagobah, Jabba on his throne and, of course, to witness the epic battle between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader.

"This experience is about much more than the figures. Guests will be able to step right into an atmospheric recreation of Yoda's swamp like Luke Skywalker did in The Empire Strikes Back and see the fiery lava of Mustafar as Anakin turns to the dark side in Revenge of the Sith. Guests will become truly immersed in the films in a new and exciting way," Sweet said.