We do not usually cover every one-off documentary landing on streaming, but ‘Disney Worldbuilders’ looks particularly interesting, especially for anyone fascinated by the people working behind the scenes to turn fictional worlds into something audiences can actually step inside.
Coming to Disney+ this August, the feature-length documentary sees filmmaker Leslie Iwerks sit down with some of the biggest creative names connected to Disney, including Bob Iger, James Cameron, Jon Favreau, Kevin Feige, Jennifer Lee, Pete Docter, Dave Filoni, Jared Bush and Josh D’Amaro.
The focus is not simply on how they created stories such as ‘Avatar’, ‘Star Wars’, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Pixar’s films, ‘Frozen’ and ‘Zootopia’. It explores how those worlds are then translated into Disney’s theme parks, turning characters, locations and ideas created for the screen into places people can physically visit.
That is a fascinating creative challenge. It is one thing to create an alien planet for a film, where the camera controls exactly what the audience sees. It is something very different to build that planet as a real location, knowing visitors will be able to wander around, inspect it from every angle and notice immediately when something does not feel right.
Having visited Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland in California, I can say that, when Disney gets it right, the effect really is spectacular. You can walk out of what is clearly a Disney theme park and suddenly feel as though you have stepped onto another planet. And, yes, seeing a massive, full-sized Millennium Falcon sitting in front of you is extremely cool.
‘Disney Worldbuilders’ examines that relationship between filmmakers and Disney Imagineers, looking at how stories inspire theme park lands, and how those physical spaces can then influence the next generation of stories.
The documentary also offers a glimpse at upcoming lands being developed for Disney destinations around the world, during what the company describes as one of the most ambitious periods of creative expansion in its history.
“I wanted to understand what ignites the imaginations of the storytellers behind some of the world’s most beloved stories,” said Iwerks. “As I sat down with each of them, I discovered a common thread: they often traced their creative journeys back to a single childhood moment—walking through the gates of Disneyland and realizing that impossible dreams could become real. It’s a feeling I know well, and one that has shaped my own journey. My hope is that audiences leave with that same sense of possibility and inspiration.”
Iwerks has a unique connection to Disney’s history. Her grandfather, Ub Iwerks, was Walt Disney’s original animator and co-creator of Mickey Mouse, while her father, Don Iwerks, worked as a camera technician and inventor at Walt Disney Imagineering. Both became Academy Award winners and Disney Legends.
Her previous documentaries include ‘The Imagineering Story’, ‘The Pixar Story’, ‘Industrial Light & Magic: Creating the Impossible’ and ‘Disneyland Handcrafted’, making her an ideal person to explore the complicated process of turning cinematic worlds into convincing physical environments.
Ahead of its Disney+ launch, the documentary will receive its world premiere at D23, where Disney fans will be the first to see the completed film.
‘Disney Worldbuilders’ premieres Thursday, 20th August 2026 on Disney+.
Login to Geektown