A NEW sci-fi feature film featuring Lord of the Rings star, Sir Ian McKellen, and thousands of extras is to have its world premiere on March 15.

The Lancashire-made independent film, Displaced, was shot at various locations across the North west and features a cast of rising stars.

The film's opening narrative is given by former Bolton School pupil Sir Ian.

The story features Stel, a humanoid alien (Mark Strange), who teams up with a British soldier John Marrettie (Malcolm Hankey) to find a top secret file which holds information on advanced energy production.

There's also captured space crafts and their alien pilots including Stel's missing father, Arakawa (Geoff Coxhead), imprisoned on earth by Core, a human paramilitary group.

The displaced file falls into the hands of a renegade special forces leader, Wilson (Graham Brownsmith) who plans to sell it to the highest bidder, leading to a deadly game of survival, combat, intrigue and deceit.

Displaced was produced by Leyland actor/director Mark Strange.

Directed by Wigan-based Martin Holland, it was the brainwave of Mark's sister, writer Carol Anne, and has been six years in the making.

Mark said: "This is a historic achievement for Lancashire.

"It's not every day that a sci-fi action adventure feature film, with worldwide interest, gets made in Lancashire."

The film's premiere is at The Island, St Annes, on March 15. For tickets and advance reservations call 01253 722620.